Benefits of nature (2024)

Tree-lined Sydney suburbs have cleaner air compared to other suburbs. That’s good news, given air pollution kills more Australians each year than traffic accidents.

This video by the Inner West Council shows what trees planted on the street can give to urban environments.

Faced with rising temperatures, Penrith City Council is planting more than 100,000 trees to help cool down their area.

Trees help reduce the ‘heat island’ effect – that’s when heat is absorbed by hard surfaces in urban areas (such as unshaded pavements, roads and buildings). This heat is then radiated back out, making urban areas significantly hotter than surrounding regions.

Benefits of nature (1)

Photo: City surface temperatures can be 10–20 degrees hotter than air temperatures because buildings, roads and other hard surfaces absorb and store heat. Numbers on this image indicate the temperature in degrees Celsius. The hottest temperatures are orange to red and the cooler temperatures are blue. Jason Dowling, Courtesy of City of Melbourne.

The NSW Government has a range of grant programs available for community groups and local councils that support projects to protect and restore native vegetation in Sydney. For more information check out the NSW Environmental Trust grant programs.

Replacing hard surfaces with plants, including trees, will help cool our environment as they provide shade and reflect heat.

Trees can also increase the value of property, including those growing along your street.

Research on the Sydney suburbs of Annandale, Blacktown and Willoughby estimated that 10% more tree canopy in street trees could increase the individual value of local properties by $50,000.

Benefits of nature (2024)

FAQs

Benefits of nature? ›

Nature can help decrease your anxiety levels and can help lessen stress and feelings of anger. Exercise can also help this, but it's even better when you're outside. Regular access to green spaces has been linked to lower risks of depression and improved concentration and attention.

What are the benefits of our nature? ›

The natural environment gives us a wealth of services that are difficult to measure in dollars. Natural areas help clean our air, purify our water, produce food and medicines, reduce chemical and noise pollution, slow floodwaters, and cool our streets.

Why is nature so important? ›

Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity. These natural assets are often called the world's 'natural capital'.

Why do people feel better in nature? ›

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

How much nature is enough? ›

“It's well-known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for people's health and well-being, but until now we've not been able to say how much is enough,” White said. “Two hours a week is hopefully a realistic target for many people, especially given that it can be spread over an entire week to get the benefit.”

What are the 5 important things in nature? ›

A lot of ancient philosophies around the globe classify the composition of the Universe into 5 elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether (Space). These are also called the “Panch Mahabhoot.” Knowledge of these five elements helps us understand the laws of nature.

How does nature heal us? ›

Being in nature can help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, enhance immune system function and boost self-esteem and mood.

What nature provides us? ›

Nature is essential for human life. Nature provides us with water, clean air and food, and raw materials for medicines, industry and buildings. Our crops rely on insect pollination and the complex biological processes that create soil. Enjoying parks, landscapes and wildlife improves our health and well-being.

Why do people love nature? ›

Nature has been proven, time and time again, to reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and anger, as well as generally boost psychological wellbeing. Nature can help to make you feel happier and more content as a person, which can improve many areas of your life.

Why do I feel so connected to nature? ›

Our relationship with the natural environment can be understood through the concept of biophilia and the biophilia hypothesis. This term is defined as humans' innate need to affiliate with other life such as plants and animals. This essentially means that humans have a desire to be near nature.

How does nature affect the brain? ›

Research using EEG and other measures to study brain activities during nature exposure find that rhythmic brain activity indicates better attention, higher functional connectivity and altered sensory processing. These findings correspond with increased focus, cognitive flexibility and creativity.

Why is it better to live in nature? ›

A University of Washington review of the research shared evidence that contact with nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive social interactions, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress.

Why do people think natural is better? ›

In fact, researchers have looked at some of the reasons why people have that belief. What they found is that a person's preference for natural things involves a range of ideas, including the belief that nature is pure and inherently superior to humans.

How does nature help with stress? ›

Lots of people find a sense of relaxation and joy by being in nature. Research suggests that even just the view of the forest from a hospital room helps patients who are feeling down, and that twenty minutes in nature could significantly reduce your levels of cortisol (the stress hormone).

How nature is so beautiful? ›

The beauty of nature lies in its freshness, openness, slow breeze and the warm sun – relief for our brains. Nature is made of everything we see around us the trees, flowers, plants, animals, sky, mountains, forests and more.

What are some things nature does for us? ›

Nature is essential for human life. Nature provides us with water, clean air and food, and raw materials for medicines, industry and buildings. Our crops rely on insect pollination and the complex biological processes that create soil. Enjoying parks, landscapes and wildlife improves our health and well-being.

What is the importance of nature 10 points? ›

Role and Importance of Nature

The natural cycle of our ecosystem is vital for the survival of organisms. We all should take care of all the components that make our nature complete. We should be sure not to pollute the water and air as they are gifts of Nature. Mother nature fosters us and never harms us.

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