A recently published study highlighted a strong relationship between mental and physical health and available green spaces. A positive relationship also has been found between increased attention span and talking a walk in a natural environment.
One Rochester area organization, the Genesee Land Trust (GLT), preserves and protects natural lands, waterways, and working farms, conserving habitats and creating nature preserves. GLT seeks to connect people to nature and ensure a sustainable, green environment in the Greater Rochester region to enhance quality of life.
When developing its current strategic conservation plan, GLT used maps and census data to visualize where people live, the health of those communities, and where there are gaps. Data included the Social Vulnerability Index, CDC Asthma Prevalence, Vehicle Availability, as well as measures of heat vulnerability and severity. Their results show that urban areas, with fewer publicly accessible natural areas per capita than their suburban counterparts also have higher rates of heart disease and asthma.
You can also explore the GLT-preserved lands and these data in the RocHealthData Map Room.
And, while there is a common perception that people who live in rural areas have more access to nature and fresh foods. That is not necessarily true. Rural areas showed the same trends as urban areas.
During Earth Month, find ways to get outside and improve your health. Find a local nature preserve or event at the Land Trust’s website. And if you live in a community that could use more safe, outdoor natural areas, contact GLT here.
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