By Jennifer Teegarden, MN DNR Cooperative Forest Management Outreach Specialist and MNWWN Board Member
I know I don’t need to preach the importance of trees and forests to members of the Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network. However, I do want to give you some talking points to tell family and friends, and even strangers, the importance of trees and forests to our mental and physical health.
The majority of human history was spent as hunters and gatherers. Our brains and bodies evolved to live and survive in nature. Only a small fraction of human history has been spent living in an industrial society, and research is showing we are suffering from nature-deficit disorder, a term coined by author Richard Louv.
According to Richard Louv, nature-deficit disorder results from the lack of nature in the lives of today’s “wired” generation that is causing a rise in childhood trends such as obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods brings together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. So now, some doctors are prescribing exposure to trees and forests to improve health.
Here are some talking points and supporting facts on how forests are good for our health:
1) Trees help reduce skin cancer.
a. Shade from trees reduces exposure to UV rays, the primary cause of skin cancer.
b. In 50% shade, sunburn protection lasts 2.5 times longer than when standing in direct sunlight.
2) Trees keep the air clean.
a. Air pollution and particles cling to the leaves and branches of trees.
b. Childhood asthma rates are lower in urban neighborhoods that have a higher density of trees.
3) Trees decrease mental stress.
a. Exposure to forests decreases mental fatigue by relaxing and restoring the mind, and lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
b. Kids who play in nature are more relaxed and attentive, which improves learning and performance in school.
4) Trees promote healing.
a. Nature helps patients refocus their attention and increase their pain thresholds, leading to improved coping and healing strategies.
5) Trees reduce heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
a. A tree’s canopy and shade reduce temperatures by up to 20°F.
6) Food from trees can be healthy to eat.
a. Fruits and nuts are good for the body because they contain antioxidants to boost the immune system and healthy fats to decrease bad cholesterol.
7) Trees and shrubs can reduce stressful noise.
a. A properly-designed buffer of trees and shrubs can reduce noise by about 5 to 10 decibels, or about 50% of what the human ear perceives.
So if you find yourself feeling down or crabby, take a walk in your woods or at a nearby park. It is good for your health. Visit the DNR Health Benefits of Trees website to learn more.