Connection with Nature

What We Found

Natural landscape features such as mountains, rivers, and trails are important to the wellbeing of nearly all respondents.

girl walking her dog by logan river

What it is

Connection with nature refers to a person’s relationship with the natural environment. In communities, connection with nature can be influenced by access to natural spaces and opportunities to participate in nature-based activities.

Why it matters

High levels of connection with and access to nature in communities have been shown to make residents more socially involved and feel happier, improve overall physical health, and decrease the occurrence of certain illnesses. In addition, having a variety of well-managed natural spaces within communities can positively impact the health of the local environment.

What you can do

Since access to nature is important for allowing residents to build a connection with nature, city leaders can directly influence human-nature relationships by considering nature in their policies and development strategies. We recommend that communities focus on providing (1) opportunities for direct use of nature with outdoor recreation activities and other naturalized public spaces, (2) opportunities for indirect use by maintaining views of nature, and (3) utilizing green infrastructure or nature-based solutions. Below you can find a list of targeted resources to learn more about connection with nature and ways to improve it in your community.

Resources and Links

Click the title of the resource or the associated image to be taken to the referenced link. The icons below indicate if a resource is geared toward community leaders or individuals.

Community Focus | Individual Focus

Community Tree Planting Grants

TreeUtah is a local non-profit organization that aims to increase wellbeing and environmental health by supporting tree planting throughout Utah. They offer community grants, information on native tree types, and tree care guides through their site. The link above takes you to their community tree planting page with information on how to apply for funding to increase native trees within your community.

Link addresses the following recommendations: maintaining views of nature and utilizing green infrastructure or nature-based solutions

Guidelines for Parks, Recreation, and Green Space

Recognizing the importance of parks, recreation, and green space for creating healthy communities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced various resources that can be used by decision-makers to ensure adequate access to such services in their communities. The link above takes you to a CDC webpage that provides information on parks and green space, what planners can do to influence these activities and spaces, examples of successful strategies, and a list of various resource guides for further information and assistance.

Link addresses the following recommendations: outdoor recreation activities and other naturalized public spaces

The Practice of Biophilic Design

Biophilic design involves incorporating nature into community built environments to increase connection with the natural world and overall livability. Stephen Kellert and Elizabeth Calabrese are experts in biophilic design and planning and have produced a guide that teaches city planners how to incorporate nature into their development guidelines. The link above takes you to their Practice of Biophilic Design guide.

Link addresses the following recommendations: maintaining views of nature and utilizing green infrastructure or nature-based solutions

Preservation of Scenic Areas and Viewsheds

Utahn’s love their mountain views and as the state continues to grow, it can be important to determine how to maintain connections with nature through preserving scenic views. The link above takes you to a document from the New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives (formerly the Office of Energy and Planning) about how to preserve scenic areas and viewsheds by providing decision-makers with ideas on how to determine their scenic zones and produce master plans that prioritize views of nature.

Link addresses the following recommendations: maintaining views of nature

Federal Funding and Tools

The City Parks Alliance is a non-profit group that focuses on advocating for federal financing of city parks to ensure equitable development of parks throughout all communities. They perform research, develop and track funding strategies, and offer various resources related to parks. The link above takes you to their Investing in Equitable Urban Park Systems guide. On their website in the drop down menu, a variety of other resources and funding strategies can be viewed.

Link addresses the following recommendations: outdoor recreation activities and other naturalized public spaces

Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities: the Power of Nature-based Solutions

The United Nations Environment Program advocates for and provides resources related to sustainable development and environmental health. They promote nature-based solutions, which are actions taken to restore or maintain altered ecosystems to help solve both social and environmental issues in and around cities. The link above takes you to their Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities guide, which provides valuable information and strategies for decision-makers who are interested in learning more about and utilizing nature-based solutions.

Link addresses the following recommendations: utilizing green infrastructure or nature-based solutions.

Nearby Nature in the City Report

Recognizing that urban growth often occurs at the expense of nature, the University of Michigan has compiled the Nearby Nature in the City report. The link above takes you directly to the report, which provides useful information on urban growth, the impact of growth on nature in cities, and strategies that can be used to ensure access to nature in cities.

Link addresses the following recommendations: outdoor recreation activities and other naturalized public spaces and utilizing green infrastructure or nature-based solutions

Utah State University Extension

Utah State University (USU) has multiple great Extension programs that provide resources and information to benefit both communities and individuals. The link above takes you to Extension's Health and Wellness program, which has great information about the benefits of nature and how to become more connected to nature through various activities. Community leaders can provide this resource to their residents or residents can view the page to get ideas about how to connect more with nature in their community.

The GNAR Initiative

Utah State University (USU) Extension hosts the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative. The goals of the GNAR Initiative are to provide education, capacity building, and research for Western communities with significant natural amenities to assist with the changes and challenges associated with such places. The link above takes you to their website where you can learn more about the program, become a part of the GNAR Network, and browse their toolkit specifically designed to aid the unique challenges of amenity-based communities.