184 views • posted 07/28/2020 • updated 07/21/2023


Urban Nature for Human Health and Well-Being

A research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space

This report summarizes some of the most prominent research related to nature and public health to help urban natural resource professionals, urban planners, architects, educators, health professionals, and community groups effectively communicate the health benefits of urban nature to their constituents.

by USDA Forest Service

People are dependent on nature for food, water, security, health, and well-being—we are connected with the natural world for our very survival. Green spaces also make us happier and healthier. The evidence of the link between nature, health, and preventive medicine will hopefully spur more direct collaboration between the health, urban planning, education, and natural resource communities. With the growing pressures of modern life, these are critical connections to pursue; the answers to some of the biggest challenges facing these groups lie in the recognition of shared interests, goals, and objectives. This area of research will continue to grow in the com­ing years and decades, illuminating the essential role that nature plays in the health and well-being of our minds, bodies, and spirit.

Attached document published January 2018

About the Author


To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

More articles by this author

More articles in this category

Age and Dementia Friendly Design Considerations for Physical Infrastructure

posted Oct 3, 2023

Inclusive design can address functional needs arising from dementia.

Trails For All Americans

posted Aug 23, 2023

What would it take for all Americans to be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes be on trails that wind through their cities, towns or villages and bring them back without retracing steps?

Why Trails Matter: Resilience to Wildfire

posted Aug 9, 2023

Trails connect suburban and rural communities to wild places, and they can play an important role in landscape resilience, as wildfire becomes more frequent in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where homes are increasingly being built.

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is Making a Difference Across America

posted May 10, 2022

Use this interactive map to find where, when, and how these funds are being used.