The Health Benefits Of Wilderness

[losthills]

Wilderness Brief: Healthcare Professionals for Wilderness

A group of healthcare providers in West Virginia have crafted and signed onto a public statement formally recognizing the health benefits of wild lands. By extension this group is supporting the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition's proposal to achieve permanent wilderness designation for unprotected wild places in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest (Mon). Below is the full text of the healthcare provider’s statement.

“Clean air, clean water, physical exercise, relief of stress, anxiety and other pressures of daily life, and development of self confidence and self esteem are important for maintaining and improving the physical and mental health and well-being of West Virginians, as well as helping prevent a variety of chronic diseases that afflict the health of many of our citizens.”

“The undeveloped wild lands of our state, especially the public lands accessible within the Mon, can provide all of the above health benefits. A re-connection with nature can occur here as adults and children enjoy the diverse outdoor recreation activities available that help incorporate needed exercise into the lifestyles of West Virginians, including hiking, backpacking, swimming, fishing, hunting, boating, XC skiing, and wildlife viewing. The peace, solitude and open space encountered in wilderness give a sense of freedom, exploration, and escape that may not be found elsewhere, and provide a spiritual renewal for many. Exposing children to these experiences early on can help instill in them a knowledge and appreciation of West Virginia’s wild heritage, as well as contribute toward a healthy life.”

“The wild lands of the Mon encompass major headwater areas for five river systems. By protecting these forested, undeveloped watersheds, not only is drinking water kept safe, but also, by controlling storm runoff, the risk of flooding in our river communities is lowered. The high air quality in these areas is maintained from the general lack of air-polluting activities. The health and community benefits provided by Mon wild lands can translate into economic benefits for our citizens and our state.”

“The proposed areas possess outstanding wilderness qualities increasingly scarce in the rapidly developing East. Their protection would add needed West Virginia acreage to the National Wilderness Preservation System, currently encompassing less than ½ of 1% of our state. Through the perpetuity of Wilderness designation, the benefits of these lands can be realized by future as well as current generations of West Virginians.”

http://www.wvwild.org/health_professionals_support.htm





Lost Hills: Interesting concept, and it goes to the heart of why we must continue to fight for protection of our last wildlands. Wilderness designation is the only form of protection that can hold up against the pressures of changing political winds and changing administrations. While we have a friendly congress we should keep pressure on them for more Wilderness designation, and support the efforts of our great international environmental orgs to work for wildlands protection in other countries.

[redqueen]

1. I was just thinking about that a couple nights ago...

I remember reading something Thoreau had said about the health benefits of being immersed in unspoiled nature.

Thanks for posting this. :thumbsup:

[amitten]

2. Well, chalk up another one for basic common sense.

Of COURSE nature is beneficial to health.

Where do people think humans originate from? Some crater on the moon?