A lack of coordination can lead to redundant or unbalanced efforts, leading to territoriality and competition for limited resources among groups working toward the same mission. There is a possibility.
(Rick Egan | Salt Lake Tribune) Mila Petersen and Caitlin Kuntz hike along the Grandeur Peak Trail on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
A growing number of studies around the world are documenting the positive effects of interacting with nature on human physical, mental, social and spiritual health. These studies reinforce what we instinctively feel when hiking in the hills, picking apples from the trees in our backyard, or strolling under the tall trees of Liberty Park.
Utah State is a symphony of organizations dedicated to increasing respectful access to nature in our state. Each instrument in this orchestra provides a unique sound that enriches the quality of our lives and environments.
But unlike a real symphony, no one conductor knows which instruments are being played or the pace of the music. A lack of coordination can lead to redundant or unbalanced efforts, leading to territoriality and competition for limited resources among groups working toward the same mission. There is a possibility. To avoid that, novice groups should learn about other groups’ behavior and make sure their contributions are clear.
One such newcomer is Nature and Human Health-Utah (NHH-UT), a research and practice collaboration supported by the REI Cooperative Activities Fund. NHH-UT was founded in 2019 by Nalini Nadkarni, a forest ecologist and professor emeritus at the University of Utah. Our group is co-led by Tim Brown, his CEO at Tracy Aviary, and Dart Schmaltz, dean of the university’s School of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
We founded NHH-UT because we recognized that society is increasingly moving toward a lifestyle of natural deprivation, which negatively impacts both human and environmental health. Recent research has proven the significant health benefits of interacting with nature, but awareness among traditional medical companies and the general public is limited.
Because of this limited awareness, NHH-UT’s mission is to engage Utahns with nature, develop action, and implement solutions by providing a collaborative space to implement solutions. It is to understand, clarify and promote the relationship between human health.
Because many existing groups in Utah are actively working on this topic, we created a landscape assessment that synthesizes the missions and activities of 27 groups representing government, higher education, recreation, environment, and health care across the Salt Lake Valley. It was conducted.
We learned that existing commonly played melodies relate to topics related to nature and health in many harmonious keys. For example, many community organizations are working to improve air quality, increase access to urban green spaces, and provide recreational opportunities at schools and summer camps. Others focus on overcoming existing barriers to engagement with nature, such as lack of transportation, finances, and equipment, particularly for traditionally underrepresented groups.
The research and interviews we conducted and synthesized allowed us to identify what is being done and, more importantly, what is yet to be done. Most of the groups involved in the landscape assessment expressed interest in the NHH-UT being a connector and amplifier of existing work. Other priorities include additional research in nascent areas of nature and human health, more funding for pilot projects, and finding solutions to fair access to nature concerns. A recurring leitmotif was the need for support through political channels to promote real and sustainable impacts on nature connectivity for the improvement of people’s health and the environment.
In October 2023, NHH-UT hosted a symposium designed to connect groups with similar missions, discuss, and reduce duplication. This was the first of many activities offered by NHH-UT to harmonize people’s relationship with nature. The event’s keynote speaker was Utah Congresswoman Rosemary Lesser, who spoke about the need to improve health through a holistic approach and why we Utahns need to pay special attention to the health of our environment. I talked about what there is.
In addition, 13 community organizations will participate in a poster session during the symposium, highlighting the work currently being done in nature and health and encouraging attendees to connect with each other based on the issues that matter most to them. did.
Nature and Human Health will also offer a first round of pilot grants in 2024 to individuals and/or organizations who want to implement projects related to increasing access to the outdoors to improve the health of Utahns. They also announced that they will be awarding two rounds. NHH-UT on projects related to pediatric rheumatology, air quality, bike lane expansion, camp programs for African American families, nature-based summer camps for incarcerated youth, and mental health outdoor programs for women. We received 15 proposals.
Our group welcomes continued input and expertise from all individuals and groups who wish to more closely connect Utah and nature in an effective and harmonious manner.
For more information about Nature and Human Health in Utah, visit www.natureandhealthutah.org.
Nalini NadkarniCo-leader of NHH-UT and professor emeritus at the University of Utah, she has interwoven forest canopy biota research with innovative public engagement throughout her career. She works with faith-based groups, artists, businesses, and incarcerated people to engage those who cannot or cannot access science education and nature.
myra garst, a program manager at NHH-UT, has worked on preventive public health programs throughout his career. She coordinates public engagement, pilot grant program management, and promotes nature-based program opportunities within the community.
Tim BrownThe co-leader of NHH-UT has served as President and CEO of Tracy Aviary since 2005, and during his time as CEO, he has paid particular attention to maintaining the look and feel of the company, an oasis in the middle of the city. Providing opportunities for people to connect with nature is his lifelong passion.
dorothy schmaltzCo-leader of NHH-UT, he is dean and associate professor in the School of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Utah. She teaches courses in the philosophy of leisure, serving diverse populations, and the social psychology of human behavior, and leads workshops on the importance of leisure for balance and well-being.
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