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Nature and Health

Illuminating the reciprocal connections between nature and well-being

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    The UW Center for Nature and Health seeks to illuminate the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature.

    • News and Events

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    | In the News

    Nature Buoy

    ASHLEY ABRAMSON · Windsor News · July 29, 2026
    Featuring Gregory Bratman, Center co-director

    Spend­ing time in or near nature has many poten­tial bene­fits. A 2021 review found that being in nature (espe­cially while enga­ging in phys­ical activ­ity) is linked to improved car­di­ovas­cu­lar health, lower blood pres­sure and reduced risk factors for chronic dis­eases like Type 2 diabetes. 

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    Featured Research

    The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Ecosystem Services cover

    Psychological Ecosystem Services

    Psychological Ecosystem Services include the diverse ways in which nature contributes to the mental and emotional well-being of individuals and communities, and encompass the psychological benefits derived from interactions with natural environments. In this new chapter, Gregory Bratman, PhD, Nature and Health’s co-director, considers a range of studies within environmental psychology, epidemiology, and exposure science that fall under the umbrella of psychological ecosystem services.

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    With your support, we can better understand how nature affects human health, how to best leverage these benefits, and how to implement policies that make nature more accessible to all communities.