Earth Day — Our Health Depends on Biodiversity!

Research InsightsStrategies & SolutionsFeatured

Apr 19

Introduction

As Earth Day approaches, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on how the health of our planet impacts human health. While we often hear about the imperative to "save the planet" for the sake of its oceans, flora, and fauna, we sometimes overlook how crucial the outdoor environment is for human health and happiness.

Biodiversity, encompassing a vast variety of living organisms, is fundamental to our daily lives. From the microscopic bacteria in our bodies to the insects that pollinate our crops, nature plays a vital role in regulating our immune system and enhancing our overall well-being. Research consistently demonstrates the positive effects of nature on our mental and physical health, highlighting the undeniable connection between human health and the natural world. For instance, studies have shown that nature can boost our mood, help us recover from sickness, and reduce stress levels.

That’s why the latest version of the Fitwel® Standard, v3, we’re introducing new strategies that recognize the link between protecting the life around us and our own health and well-being. Here is an in-depth look at some of the research supporting the updates to the Fitwel® Standard, and the connection between biophilia and biodiversity and human health.

Green and Blue Spaces

Feeling a bit down? Spending time in and around nature can work wonders for our mental health, boosting our mood and reducing stress. Exposure to green spaces, from backyards to parks, has been linked to reduced cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, depressive symptoms, and mortality. Studies have shown that views of greenery from a hospital window and indoor plants in hospital rooms can even speed up surgical patient recovery times. Even l ooking at images of greenery can have positive effects on mental health. Being surrounded by greenery and nature can also improve our physical health by encouraging us to be more active. Ponds, pools, rivers, and oceans (or “blue spaces”) can also have many of these positive impacts. Research has also shown that being near “blue spaces,” or areas near water, can support improved mental health as well as a reduced risk of obesity and all-cause mortality.

This remarkable link between nature and mental health has been demonstrated time and time again, and there are many theories delving into the why behind this relationship. One explanation for this strong connection between humans and nature is the “biophilia hypothesis,” which theorizes that humans have a natural, inherent and instinctive love for other living things. This has been increasingly supported by new research that continues to explore the ways that humans are interconnected with other organisms.

At the Center for Active Design (CfAD), we are focused on leveraging the built environment to improve health, and this ever growing evidence base has led us to explore tactics to better integrate nature into our built spaces. These interventions include integrating biophilic design, orienting windows so they have views of nature, locating buildings near parks, including walking trails in developments, building rooftop gardens, and installing indoor plant walls. These are just some examples of strategies that have been shown to boost mental and physical health, and we encourage projects to pursue bringing these aspects to their buildings in the Fitwel® Standard. The Help Center has more information on these interventions.

Health Benefits of the Microbiome

Another aspect contributing to the connection between human and environmental health is the microbiome—the diverse community of microbes inside and on our bodies, which plays a big role in keeping us healthy. It turns out, exposure to natural environments can enrich our microbiome, leading to better immune function and reduced allergies. The bacteria in our surroundings, like those found in soil and fresh air, can contribute to our overall well-being, and help regulate our bodily systems. New research has been investigating how the diversity of the microbes surrounding us might be one main reason why proximity to green and blue spaces have such powerful effects on our physical health. The “Old Friends” concept is the idea that humans evolved closely with certain microorganisms, and our physical systems rely on symbiotic relationships with our “Old Friends” to function properly. In other words, our survival is codependent in such a way that we exhibit a biologically positive response to each other. Some researchers even hypothesize that our lost exposure to some of those species may be linked to modern health issues, such as allergies, autoimmune disease, and inflammatory bowel disease, that have to do with our ability to regulate inflammation and maintain our immune system.

There is still much to learn about the mechanisms by which nature benefits our health, but the relationship is clear. The diversity of living species is intricately linked for animals, plants, and the small bacteria that live around and inside us, as we depend on each other in ways that we are only starting to understand. This is just one of the many reasons that we must safeguard habitats and ecosystems, as well as the quality of the surrounding air and water.

Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity isn't just about saving plants, animals, and their habitat; it's also about the essential services and products they provide. Plants in coastal areas help safeguard our homes and businesses from flood damage and soil subsidence. According to the National Parks Service, the vast majority of common medicines that we use are derived from plants. We rely on natural processes like photosynthesis and pollination to provide us with construction materials, clothes, and food. Organisms are always hard at work providing clean air that we breathe and water that we swim in, and these environmental factors are hugely influential to our health. These are all examples of ecosystem services, which keep the gears of life on Earth turning.

It is important to consider how climate change mitigation is required to help preserve these ecosystem services. It is well documented that climate change is causing biodiversity loss, and this is jeopardizing both the world’s ecosystems and the services provided to humans. This link highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing strategies to conserve the world’s ecosystems, as this will continue to impact human health. Ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, are crucial for our well-being, underscoring the need to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Conclusion

As we celebrate Earth Day, let's remember that the health of our planet is intricately linked to our own well-being. At CfAD, we promote practical ways to preserve biodiversity through the built environment by encouraging projects to implement strategies like Open Space Noise Control, Light Pollution Control, Infill Development, and Support Biodiversity. We encourage you to explore the research and recommendations behind these strategies and think about how you can bring nature into your life. By embracing biodiversity and supporting environmental conservation in our built environment, we're not just helping the planet but also investing in our own well-being. So, take a stroll in the park, give a tree a hug, and soak in the beauty of nature. Your body and mind will thank you for it!

Article contributed by the Center for Active Design team of research experts, including Skyler Chin, Dillon Alwan, Sara Karerat, and Grace Dickinson.

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