How 'Green' is Wired Into Our Genes

In what ways can nature be beneficial to us?

Gardens, parks, fields, and forests can revitalise our health and clear our minds; the fresh air, soothing sounds, and stunning scenery can provide a sense of comfort and contentment.

Having plants around you can make you measurably smarter, more creative, and more social, as well as act as a powerful antidote to stress and a preventative measure against mental illness.

Green genes

In an era of rapid urbanisation and digitisation, it's easy to forget that human beings are animals. Our welfare is affected by our surroundings and how closely they mimic our "environment of evolutionary adaptation", the type of conditions that our species evolved in and adapted to over hundreds of thousands of years. Given just how recent and rapid urbanisation and digitisation have been, our bodies and minds have not had time to adapt. Genetic adaptations take many thousands of years, and so despite our cultural, social, and technological advancements, our genes are still essentially identical to our wild ancestors’ tens of thousands of years ago.

Understand the nature’s impact on our welfare 

There are now thousands of studies on nature's impact on our welfare. As recently as 2005, there were only 60 solid scientific studies on the subject. A mushrooming body of evidence spanning disciplines and continents is uncovering how essential contact with nature is to our health and happiness.