Nature reserves near cities boost mental health for urbanites

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-06-04 19:00

Australia; New Zealand; International

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It's time to 'break the divide' between public health and biodiversity conservation, say international researchers who studied the accessibility of 'biodiversity-rich recreational areas' for over 9,000 global cities. Estimating visitor numbers based on local travel costs, and the impact of visits on mental wellbeing, they calculated that city-dwellers worldwide avoid losing nearly 140,000 years to disability or early death thanks to 'biodiversity-rich' spaces. They conclude that such recreation areas, which have a 'stronger nature dose' compared to managed green spaces with lower biodiversity, could be a cost-effective intervention in over 1,200 cities, mostly in high-income countries.