By Carolyn Gregoire / HuffPost Science
As urbanization, population growth and the rampant destruction of the natural world increase, human beings have become more and more isolated from nature — and at a significant cost.
Spending time in nature is good for both the body and the mind, leading to health benefits including reduced depressive symptoms and lower blood pressure. As it turns out, the benefits of exposure to nature don’t stop with individuals — they also extend to entire communities and societies.
A study recently published in the journal BioScience finds that contact with nature is associated with stronger communities and lower crime rates.