I like the Chinese idiom 落叶归根 (The falling leaves settle on the roots) – a person residing elsewhere finally returns to his ancestral home—this sentiment on “returning to” pervades old age.
I enjoy the nostalgia of my childhood days and revisit the places where I grew up. I take it a bit further – to the ancestral home of the human race – nature. (Remember we evolved in nature?) And sometimes even further still to where my body will return – “dust thou art, to dust descend.” These reflections, in recent years, have brought me much more down to earth, much closer to nature than before.
As the autumn days fade into winter twilight, I wish for just a bit more time on earth; and good health to enjoy my sunset years. I have discovered that people living near forests and parks live longer and live happier. Why?
The World Health Organization highlights three components (physical, social, and mental) that make us holistically healthy. In the past, the medical profession focused on getting rid of diseases. Gradually, the notion of health shifted to positive attributes (wellbeing) rather than the absence of illness. In other words, we now have the primary responsibility of taking care of our health (if we want to live longer).
We can benefit from recent findings that closer living with greenery improves our wellbeing. The proximity to green spaces encourages us to exercise more. If there are no parks around, park connectors will do! Studies have repeatedly shown that green spaces promote social cohesion and group activities resulting in better social and mental health.
Green spaces help to maintain a healthy environment – they buffer air pollution—trees lower pollution levels. For example, scientists have estimated that the 8 million trees in London removed 2241 tons of pollutants, 2,367,000 tons of carbon and provided 77,200 tons of carbon sequestration. On average, each tree removed 4.5 kg of air pollutants a year.
We live in the tropics, where temperatures are already high. Temperatures in our urban areas are even higher (urban heat island), Artificial features absorb and store solar energy. These structures also reduce wind movement and wind speed. We know that increased air temperature gives rise to heat stress and higher levels of air pollution. In contrast, green spaces absorb solar radiation and cool the environment through evapotranspiration.
Greenery is pleasing; it is healthy. Get connected with nature! And, before we finally embrace mother earth (or mother earth embraces us), we should keep her healthy for future generations.
Vince
Dr Vincent Chong is a retired Professor of Radiology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
