The Interconnectedness of Conservation and Public Health
Written by Mary Nelmark, Summer 2024 LNRP Public Health Intern
“Everything is Connected to Everything Else”
Health is always in the news. This may be related to a new disease, health disparities throughout the world, a new diet craze, or climate change reports. It is inevitable that the topic of health will pop up at some point during everyday life. Health is the common thread that links us (humans) to our ecosystems and the many other life forms that inhabit them. Emphasizing the approach of everything being connected can support different areas of both environmental and public health.
Despite the importance of this concept, many still do not understand how connected humans are to the places we live, play, work, and grow. This lack of understanding may be partially due to misconceptions about what the environment encompasses. People seem to think it is only the “outdoors”, but the environment is so much more than that. A scientific definition of environment explains, “It is the complex system of physical, chemical and biological factors, of living and non-living elements and of the relationships in which all the organisms that inhabit the planet are immersed.” In essence, the environment is a dynamic and complex system with many integrating parts, all interacting and creating areas for life to thrive.
A healthy environment contributes to our overall well-being, makes us more resilient to disease, and helps prevent illness. Ecosystems around the world provide us with the food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe, and all other everyday essentials that sustain us; everything we have and are is from nature. Environmental conservation is an important public health strategy because it positively impacts the six dimensions of human health: social, physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual. Conserving the environment is not just about protecting and conserving plants and animals, but also safeguarding human health now and for generations to come.
A Public Health Perspective of LNRP’s Work
Mary sharing information about her internship with LNRP
Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP)’s conservation efforts have improved both ecosystem and community-wide health. However, their work is viewed from mostly a conservationist perspective. Given the interconnections between health and the environment, we can (and should) also apply a public health lens. LNRP recognizes the importance of this perspective, which led to my summer as their Public Health intern while completing my studies in Public Health and Community Health at UW-La Crosse.
LNRP contributes to local economies and the quality of life for the communities they work with through environmental stewardship. Some general examples of LNRP’s work include: creating and enhancing green spaces, improving watershed health, providing education for communities, and building climate resilience. All of these efforts are related to public health and represent an alternative or supplement to other health promotion strategies. LNRP’s initiatives alter the economic, social, and physical surroundings that affect health outcomes, policy change, and system changes. System changes are especially impactful because they are “...a fundamental shift in the way problems are solved”. LNRP's work has made significant contributions to improving all six dimensions of health with the connectedness to the health promotion strategies they are applying.
How LNRP Supports Community Health
In partnership with local municipalities, fellow non-profit organizations, businesses, and other community stakeholders, LNRP works to enhance, promote, and improve land and water ecosystems throughout their service region. Increased access to green or outdoor spaces has been scientifically proven to improve physical and mental well-being. “People who live near parks and green space have less mental distress, are more physically active, and have longer life spans.” Green spaces are typically cost-free and publicly accessible, resulting in community-level health improvements. LNRP-led and supported initiatives like tree planting and beach cleanups further enhance both green spaces themselves and strengthen their public health impacts.
Image source: https://www.nrpa.org/publications-research/park-pulse/time-spent-outside-reduces-stress/
Beach cleanups prevent harm to both aquatic life and human health by supporting clean water, maintaining a safe environment, and attracting outdoor recreation. Several LNRP partner groups, such as Friends of Crescent Beach and Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed, host local beach cleanups for their communities. Spending time outside has well-documented health benefits. Some of the benefits of “blue spaces”, or places near bodies of natural water, include increased mental stamina and attention, increased feelings of happiness, increased relaxation, and better, longer sleep. Beach cleanups help protect aquatic life from toxic chemicals and getting tangled in plastic debris. They can also prevent negative health impacts to humans visiting beaches and the 1.6 million Wisconsonities who rely on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior for their drinking water. Trash and debris can harbor harmful bacteria and plastic can break down into microplastics, which can be ingested by humans.
LNRP’s tree planting efforts also significantly enhance green spaces by providing ecosystem and human health benefits. LNRP has led efforts with external partners and supports their partner groups in leading tree planting initiatives in their communities, like Restoration of our Trees Sheboygan and Climate Change Coalition of Door County. LNRP and their collaborators have done a tremendous amount of work in facilitating tree planting efforts across their service area. For example, Climate Change Coalition of Door County plants thousands of trees over a 6-week period in celebration of Earth Day. Tree planting offers numerous benefits. It helps combat climate change, improves air quality, helps reduce sound pollution, and decreases stormwater runoff, flooding, and soil erosion. Trees also provide critical habitat for many species, promoting biodiversity. From improving environments, supporting local communities to public health and well-being, planting trees positively affects us all. Trees absorb greenhouse gasses, clean our air, help filter our water, boost our mental health and promote physical health. Studies have shown that simply walking outside among trees can lower anxiety and depression. Moreover, high quality natural areas promote an active lifestyle by providing spaces for people to move around, potentially reducing rates of obesity.
Building a Healthier Future Together
While public health and environmental stewardship are often seen as separate initiatives, they are interconnected. Organizations like LNRP embody this connection. Their conservation efforts not only protect the environment but also improve public health by creating and enhancing green spaces and protecting watersheds. By promoting a healthy environment, they help improve the health of people and their communities. Organizations like LNRP build a healthier planet for everyone. By participating in LNRP’s work, individuals can improve the health of themselves and their family and friends, while contributing to a healthier community overall. Tree planting, beach clean-ups, water quality monitoring, invasive species removal, and learning about your local ecosystem are all ways that you can get involved! If you’re not sure where to start, shoot LNRP a line at inquiry@lnrp.org. Together, we can create thriving communities and a sustainable future. Remember, we are all part of one world, and caring for it is caring for ourselves.