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Nature’s Cure for a Disconnected World

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Publié le jeudi 11 septembre 2025 10:06

By Megan Tomlison

September 15, 2025

Nestled within the woodlands of a semi-urban town along the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, a towering Douglas Fir stands like a sentinel —ancient, steady, and quietly dignified. I call her ‘Big Mama.’ For many years, my routine has been to visit this majestic giant at the end of a stressful nursing shift. My practice is to take pause in Big Mama’s presence and lean into her quiet, unconditional support. Without words, she soothes my nervous system and rekindles my spirit. Needless to say, I was heart broken during a recent visit when I found Big Mama defaced by spray paint. The vandalism was sloppy, somewhat illegible and appeared to convey a disturbing message of racial intolerance. A week later, while exploring another nearby forest, I came across three more trees tagged with similar messages. 

It goes without saying that trees are a life-giving organism. They provide shelter, oxygen, and habitat for wildlife. Trees improve soil and water conservation and are a vital solution in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples highlights the significance of trees – in addition to serving as a source of sustenance and medicine, trees are sacred beings deserving of reverent stewardship for the well-being of the eco-systems and its future generations.

Western science is only just beginning to understand the human health benefits associated with trees and the natural world. Phytoncides - antimicrobial organic compounds emitted by trees and plants, similar to essential oils – are thought to mediate health promoting effects and can improve human immune function. Immersing oneself in nature, a therapeutic practice known in Japan as Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, appears to benefit human health in a multitude of ways. Increasing research indicates that forms of nature therapy, whereby a meaningful connection to the natural world is established, has been shown to reduce stress, enhance joy and contributes to better sleep. Individuals should seek clinical guidance from a health care provider, however nature therapy may serve as a low risk, complimentary treatment for chronic disease management and improved cognitive function. Youth living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also benefit from just twenty minutes per day of nature therapy as a safe, inexpensive intervention to improve concentration.

The promotion of nature therapy as a legitimate health intervention is gaining momentum, as seen in the BC Parks Foundation PaRx program, whereby regulated health care practitioners prescribe nature therapy to improve overall well-being. That said, access to nature is not evenly distributed, particularly in the context of socio-economic disparity. It is in our collective interest to prioritize access to green spaces for human health and for the protection of the natural world. It is broadly accepted that the more time people spend in nature, the more likely they are to protect it. Initiatives such as PaRx may therefore serve as a dual strategy: improving human health and fostering ecosystem stewardship.

The protection of forests and wild spaces requires a multifaceted approach. While individual actions and grassroots initiatives are vital, all levels of government share responsibility for environmental protection – particularly as colonial driven agendas of extraction persist. Governments must work diligently to ensure Indigenous voices and traditional knowledge are central to decisions regarding natural resource management. With growing pressure to densify urban spaces, municipal leaders must prioritize access to green spaces for all residents as a critical measure for public health.

The graffiti on Big Mama’s bark wasn’t just vandalism—it was a symptom of a deeper disconnection, a warning sign of how far we’ve strayed from our relationship with the natural world. But disconnection can be healed. Each walk in the woods, each breath among trees, each moment of quiet wonder is a step back toward wholeness.

Trees don’t just hold up the sky—they hold up our future. It’s time we hold them up, too.