How Nature Can Make Urban Dwellers Healthier

Research by a Rutgers ecologist shows biodiversity improves physical and mental health, but warns of some potential risks

A study by Rutgers ecologist Myla Aronson and colleagues has found "overwhelming" evidence that increasing biodiversity in cities - establishing parks, installing native plants and encouraging sustainable landscaping - can significantly improve human health.

Reportingin the science journal People and Nature, Aronson and coauthors described conducting a systematic review of more than 1,500 studies to synthesize their findings. They looked at how making cities greener and more friendly to plants and animals, an approach known as biodiversity-supporting actions, affects human health. They also examined linkages between biodiversity and people living in cities.

"We found overwhelming evidence that biodiversity is good for human health and well-being," said Aronson, an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. "These actions also reduce exposure to environmental harms such as heat and pollution, including air, light and noise."

The findings show actions designed to support biodiversity, such as planting native vegetation, creating large parks and reducing pesticide use, are linked to better physical and mental health, increased physical activity, improved childhood development and stronger social outcomes.

Aronson, who also is the director of the William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest Center, a 500-acre preserve in Franklin, in Somerset County, has long studied the variety of life in that ecosystem. She also has studied how cities can support biodiversity.

As scientists such as Aronson have provided increasing evidence that urban ecosystems can be planned and managed to support high levels of diversity, urban planners and policy makers have become increasingly interested in supporting and growing those ecosystems, she said.

But a question kept nagging at her: Is biodiversity actually good for people?

"As urban planners start to care about how parks and green spaces can support nature, we thought it would be important to know - does that biodiversity help the people who live there, too?" she said.

The study showed people benefit when cities include large parks, green corridors, native plants, wetlands and trees, and when they manage these spaces without harmful pesticides. "They breathe cleaner air, feel less stressed and build stronger social bonds," Aronson said.

Scientists also identified in the review specific biodiversity-supporting elements that contribute to these benefits. These include green corridors that connect parks, diverse habitats within urban areas and the preservation of special resources such as large trees, wetlands and rivers.

"This is the first time that diverse literature has been compiled to show the large potential for co-benefits between human health and biodiversity conservation in cities," Aronson said. "Designing and managing urban greenspaces for biodiversity will also be good for people."

The research also noted some negative outcomes. Certain trees that release wind-dispersed pollen may increase allergies, and urban greening projects can sometimes lead to gentrification, raising property values and displacing long-time residents. This, she said, underscores the need for careful planning to avoid unintended consequences while maximizing the benefits of nature in urban environments.

The positives far outweigh the negatives, however, Aronson said.

The findings suggest that city planners and policymakers should consider biodiversity not only as an environmental goal but as a public health strategy, she said. The study emphasizes the need for careful planning to avoid unintended consequences while maximizing the benefits of nature in urban environments.

"We have shown there is a large potential for co-benefits for human health and biodiversity management," Aronson said. "Planning cities for biodiversity conservation will also be good for people."

Support for the project was provided with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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