Forests and Human Health: A Series by APA and WWF

Shedding light on the intersection between forests and health, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has collaborated with the American Psychological Association (APA) and the APA’s Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology on the first of a three-part series.

Topics discussed include:

The contributions of forests to human well-being
Why experiencing awe in nature matters
Benefits of natural environments and green spaces

This collaboration highlights the WWF and APA’s aligned vision of a future where humans and natural resources coexist in harmony. This series also aims to demonstrate how psychological science benefits society and improves lives. Speakers described that “protecting forest loss and degradation is our most effective means of preventing infectious disease outbreaks, [… and] protecting against physical hazards, such as flooding and extreme weather, and other health issues that threaten human lives.” ecoAmerica’s own research has similarly shown the intimate relationship between the natural world, climate, and mental health, particularly among youth. We’re energized to see these connections between organizations to further the connection between climate and health. Partnerships like this are essential to improving climate-related health issues.