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Press Release

May 1, 2015

“Urban living in built, asphalt-covered environments with little green space, together with the use of processed water and food, may not provide us with the broad microbial stimulation necessary for the development of a balanced immune function.”

Helsinki alert of biodiversity and health          
von Hertzen L, et al. Ann Med. 2015.          

 

"The Helsinki Alert attributed to this group of prominent medical professionals, including respected Canadian immunologist and Order of Canada member Dr. John Bienenstock, makes it abundantly clear that the human species is symbiotically tied to nature, and urban living is making humanity sick on a microbial level. The messages coming from organizations like ours are so important. We continue to encourage Canadians across this country, in all provinces and territories, to look at our natural spaces and connect and reconnect at every opportunity. We have the best country on earth. We must preserve it for our children and future generations to come. This research shows there is a bigger issue at play. It shows that humanity is affected by the lack of exposure to nature. This will become an increasing problem if the world is to survive. The Canadian Wildlife Federation is the leading organization in Canada promoting this information and our mission is to take this message to all Canadians."

Dr. J Bernard Gosevitz
Quote from Bernard Gozevitz, MD, CCFP
CWF Foundation Chair

Most people in the world live in cities; the Helsinki report confirms that this disconnection from nature is literally making humanity sick. It was written and released by a collection of top medical professionals including Dr. John Bienenstock, Member of the Order of Canada and famed immunologist.

The above is an excerpt from the Helsinki Alert of Biodiversity and Health, a report released by the international medical community that confirms the vital connection between nature and human health, a message that has been at the core of Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) programs for more than 50 years.

According to the report, the loss of habitat due to urbanization has caused a massive loss of biodiversity and this loss of biodiversity impacts our health. Exposure to natural environments enhances physical and mental health as well as cognitive functions. Our disconnection from nearby nature is a prime reason why allergies, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and even some forms of cancer have become epidemics. The same is true for mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

Built environments, such as rubber based playground materials so common in Canada, do not provide us with the necessary microbes to sustain healthy lifestyles. Early childhood exposure to natural environments is a critical part of ensuring lifelong healthy lifestyles. Canadian Wildlife Federation programs for teenagers, like Wild Outside, ensure that the microbes necessary for human health remain in the body over the course of one’s life by encouraging participants to live healthy lifestyles into adulthood.

In response to the report, the Canadian Wildlife Federation will continue to follow its strategic mission to educate Canadians on the importance of connecting to our natural world. Since 1962 CWF has taken a lead role in ensuring that Canadians have a healthy appreciation of our wildlife and natural spaces. We encourage people to use the green spaces close to where they live: ravines in Toronto, the River Valley in Edmonton, Mount Royal Park in Montreal, Nose Hill Park in Calgary or Stanley Park in Vancouver are great examples of this.

People can create nature connection opportunities that allow children to interact and engage natural settings. One easy and fun way to do that is through our CWF Wild Family Nature Clubs. National Health and Nature Programs like this are needed to increase the public awareness of nature’s health effects and to affect attitudes and orientation. It is especially important to target children and teenagers; both the environment and the youngsters would benefit. Politicians and stakeholders in urban planning must become more aware about the effects of natural environments on human health. Elements of country life should be moved to cities, including measures that increase the diversity of microbiota.

CWF will be issuing further statements around this report in the coming days. To view the full report, click here: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/07853890.2015.1010226.

The Organizations that have signed off on the Helsinki Alert