We are telling our kids that nature is in the past and it probably doesn't count anymore, the future is in electronics, the boogeyman is in the woods, and playing outdoors is probably illicit and possibly illegal.
Richard LouvRead
A widening circle of researchers believes that the loss of natural habitat, or the disconnection from nature even when it is available, has enormous implications for human health and child development. They say the quality of exposure to nature affects our health at an almost cellular level.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The loss of natural environments negatively impacts human health and child development.
Richard Louv highlights the critical connection between humans and nature, suggesting that not only does the loss of natural spaces harm our well-being, but also that the disconnection from nature—regardless of its availability—can have serious consequences for health and the development of children. He emphasizes that the quality of our interaction with nature can influence our health at a fundamental, cellular level, underscoring the importance of preserving natural habitats for societal wellbeing.
Themes
NatureHealthChild DevelopmentEnvironmentWell-Being
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a presentation on environmental sustainability to highlight the importance of protecting natural habitats.
More from Richard Louv
All quotes →Now, more than ever, we need nature as a balancing agent.
Richard LouvRead
The future will belong to the nature-smart...Th e more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.
Richard LouvRead
We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist.
Richard LouvRead
Nature-deficit disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. The disorder can be detected in individuals, families, and communities.
Richard LouvRead
A lot of people think they need to give up nature to become adults but that's not true. However, you have to be careful how you describe and define 'nature.'
Richard LouvRead
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