Imagine discovering a new drug that could keep people more active and healthy with reduced risk of chronic disease, that improves learning and education, that captivates children and youth to be connected to the natural instead of the virtual world.
And imagine that it can deliver clean water and fresh air. Wow!
Of course, it is not a drug - it's a park, and yes, parks do deliver these benefits. The challenge is to reconnect people to nature, and to make sure there is nature to connect to.
Melbourne Australia hosted the "Healthy Parks Healthy People" International Congress in April 2010. This event examined and highlighted the value of parks, from small community greenspaces to giant wilderness and marine protected areas.
Their focus was on how humanity has always been connected to nature, whatever some might think. A healthy planet helps to produce healthy people; indeed, is inseparable from our own health.
Parks contain the landforms, plants, animals and ecosystems that are essential to life on Earth. They give us room to breathe, to connect with others, and to pursue a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Quite a connection, isn't it?
The tremendous link between nature and humans has always been there, only recently we have become more adept at ignoring it. Human health depends on healthy ecosystems because they produce essential resources like fresh water, food, timber, fibre and medicines.
They purify our water, clean our air, moderate the climate, provide carbon storage options and regulate floods. When we degrade natural habitats, we reduce the ability of the environment to support us.
What can parks, or better yet, greenspaces do for us? Quite a lot it turns out.
Parks protect and conserve ecosystems and contribute to an environment that is diverse and complex. When we protect nature we ensure it continues to provide ecosystem services so fundamental to our health.
Making contact with nature can improve our health. Evidence shows that exposure to natural environments helps us cope with and recover from stress, illness and injury.
It can even generate greater life satisfaction, or dare we say, make us happier?
The health benefits of parks are not just feel-good outcomes. Parks and natural environments have been shown to help prevent and improve chronic disease like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Parks contribute to economic growth as part of the tourism and recreation industries and make significant economic contributions to their communities.
They also provide places to get away or to get together and to generate experiences that build social cohesion and strengthen communities.
Whatever the definition of a park, however broad, the key is for us to recognize the association between humanity and nature and the need to nurture this connection for the benefit of humanity and the environment. And to act on it.
Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for the Sea to Sky.
