Green Spaces and Mortality
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Photo by Wil Stewart
It’s common knowledge that an animal in the zoo fares better when its enclosure resembles its natural environment. Humans however, are often resistant to the notion that we’re similar in that regard. As a species we make a habit of clearing out green spaces in order to “efficiently” pack into developed areas. And despite how amazingly adaptable we are as a species, a recent World Health Organization funded study underlines what should be common sense… the importance of surrounding ourselves with nature and green spaces.
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of residential green spaces on all-cause mortality, and the results of these studies, which included over 8 million individuals, found a significant inverse relationship between an increase in surrounding greenness and the risk of all-cause mortality. This evidence supports interventions and policies to increase green spaces as an approach to improve public health. So as common knowledge might suggest, and as this study shows… despite our remarkable ability to adapt to living in boxes, the more we can get out of them and experience the environment we were designed to inhabit, the better our health and ultimately, our lifespans, are affected.