A column by Amy Jenkins
On being an urban tree-hugger
Who are urban naturalists? They live in dense concentrations of people, yet understand the need to acknowledge and strengthen their connection to nature.
The world is depending on urbanites to discover a natural and healthy lifestyle that minimizes exploitation of land. It is the city dweller who minimizes land use by living in high-density and mixed-use land.
This issue has become part of Presidential candidates Al Gore's platform and a part of many urban planners' directives. For the sake of our land and resources new development is more and more likely to take place where infrastructure such as roads, sewers and utilities are already developed. Furthermore, eleven state governors have emphasized preservation of open spaces in their recent speeches. Our urban society is likely to become even more urban.
This does not mean that we are all doomed to live in congested, ozone-blasted, brick and concrete warrens. Our urban planners are more aware than ever of the human need for air, open spaces, and natural habitat. Nevertheless, urban living can have a variety of effects on the mind and body.
City living does affect our mood. The Center for Disease Control has established in a recent study that the apparent rise in affective disorders over the last century can to some extent be attributed to the stresses of urban life. Under stress the hypothalamus, an endocrine organ in the brain, stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete epinephrine and cortical. Under the effects of these hormones the body response is as follows:
- Increase in blood glucose
- Increase in fatty acid production
- Increase health rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased breathing rate
- Air passages dilate
- Blood flow to skeletal muscle increase, while blood flow to brain
- decreases
- Decreased activities of lymphatic organs, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen
- Decreased ability of the body to defend against infections
Hence the paradox, it's better for the our earth if we leave large portion of lands undeveloped, but we've got to develop a lifestyle to nurture our physical, mental, and spiritual self in our concrete ecosystem.
Fortunately our cities have recognized the intrinsic need for a connection to nature and incorporated green spaces into our cities and suburbs. Additionally it is possible to create small green spaces in even the smallest apartment. It only takes a houseplants to can improve the air quality of a room. These green spaces are one of the tools we can use to connect to nature and decrease our stress. It is essential to connect to nature to avoid the drawbacks to city living.
Dr. Horden, an Australian psychiatrist, has reported that, "City living has many advantages, but also many drawbacks, including Increased mortality and urban stress." Our longevity and quality of life is at least partially dependent on our ability to capitalize on the opportunities to connect to nature in the city.
Find your own out of doors green space, and get to know it. Notice every nuance of the time of day and season as it is reflected in your habitat. Tune in to how those changes are reflected in your mood, vitality and spirit. As you connect to nature you will connect to your own relaxed self.
Taking time to be outdoors will likely lead you to some sort of exercise, but don't neglect your time to be quiet and still in the presence of nature.
This quiet recreation is re-creation. In this state your mood will improve, your ability to fight infection will be enhanced and you are likely increasing your lifespan and quality of life. So, go out and get to know a couple of trees, you'll feel better.
Amy Jenkins
