Why Having a Nature Connection is so Important for Us

The sad reality is that we humans are moving further and further away from nature which has resulted in a loss in microbial diversity and lead to an increase in allergies and respiratory diseases. Today, the majority of us are living in busy, urban cities, where we are no longer exposed to nature's microbes.

The microbes in our cities' soil, air, and drinking water are not as healthy for us than the microbes found near forests. Appears to be a connection between one's living environment and the level of microbial diversity. This connection has been referred to as the biodiversity hypothesis.(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21979814/) The hypothesis by Leena von Hertzen, Ilkka Hanski, and Tari Haahtela suggests that a reduced connection to nature results in a loss in microbial diversity among humans. This means that nobody is spared from the consequences of biodiversity loss. It is hard to deny the scientific evidence - we are responsible for this loss in biodiversity, and now we are paying the price for it.

A Strong Nature Connection Protects from Allergies and Asthma

The severity of the problem is evident. The human immune system needs constant exposure to different microbes to stay functional. Humans living in cities do not get enough of this exposure which has resulted in a weakened immune system. "People living in cities have immune systems that are constantly alert. This can result in inflammation", writes Tari Haahtela, professor emeritus and leader of the Karelia Research Project and the Finnish Allergy Program, in Helsingin Sanomat.

The numbers are worrying even in Naava's home country Finland where nature and forests are near. But even if the nearest forest is only 300 meters away from your average Finnish home, Helsingin Sanomat states that already a third of all adults are suffering from some sort of allergic symptoms, with every tenth Finn having developed asthma.

Children Especially Benefit from a Strong Nature Connection

Young children benefit from early-life microbial exposure and being in contact with nature. This has been proven by many studies such as the Karelian Allergy Study and a soon-to-be-published study by Finnish Environment Institute's senior researcher Jenni Lehtimäki. Lehtimäki's study has been examining a million children living in Finland.

Our increasingly urban lifestyles are presenting us with completely new challenges. In June 2022, Inhabitat wrote about the negative health consequences of pollutants. These health consequences include long-term health risks such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases.

The article by Helsingin Sanomat addressed the issue of whose responsibility it really is to actually improve our nature connection. Modern cities may only have few green spaces, and even these might not be accessible to everyone. Additionally, busy schedules do not allow people to spend enough time in nature, especially if nature is too far away. Should it be the responsibility of cities and municipalities to invest in more green spaces or should the number of green spaces be regulated by the government? One positive example worth mentioning is the Lahti region in southern Finland that has invested in nature, health, and well-being by combining its health and environmental programs into one entity.