Category: Tara Tiger Brown

  • Doctoral Research on Jericho Park’s Health Benefits and Risks from Proposed Development

    Doctoral Research on Jericho Park’s Health Benefits and Risks from Proposed Development

    The following is the email that I sent to Vancouver City Council regarding Jericho Lands Public Hearing on April 15th.

    Dear Mayor Sim and Councillors,

    I am writing as a resident of Vancouver’s westside and a researcher specializing in nature and human health to express my concern about the proposed Jericho Lands development and its potential impact on Jericho Park, an irreplaceable, free public health resource for Vancouver residents.

    Over the past four years, I have conducted two major studies—my doctoral research and the Silent Trails project with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks—focused on identifying and evaluating urban park trails that provide measurable therapeutic benefits. Through a combination of environmental monitoring, vegetation surveys, and participant physiological and psychological data, I assessed numerous parks and trails across the region. I specifically chose Jericho Park as one of my study sites because the City of Vancouver identified it as a biodiversity hotspot with unique ecological value (https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/biodiversity-strategy.pdf).

    My doctoral research, a randomized crossover clinical trial (the gold standard in evidence-based health research) conducted over four seasons in four Metro Vancouver parks, demonstrated that Jericho Park’s forest trails are one of the few places in Vancouver where environmental conditions—such as plant diversity, quiet soundscapes, and natural light—are present at a level that supports measurable mental and physical health benefits. This is different from jogging or dog walking. It’s access to spaces where people can experience stress reduction, improved mood, and deeper nature connection, which require specific environmental qualities. These features are increasingly uncommon within the city as noise pollution rises and greenspace declines at double the national average. Once altered by surrounding development, they are unlikely to be recovered.

    These findings are particularly significant given that one in five Vancouver residents reports experiencing extreme daily stress or has a mood or anxiety disorder. Additionally, a growing disconnection from nature is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and cardiovascular disease.

    Jericho Park’s Health Benefits
    My research identified the following specific health outcomes among participants at Jericho Park:
    – Cardiovascular improvements indicated lower physiological stress levels.
    – Enhanced mood and decreased depression, especially among older adults.
    – The strongest connection to nature among study sites.
    – Greater vegetation diversity was associated with improved mood and lower depression scores.
    – The oldest average participants (63 years) and the highest proportion of long-term residents among the sites underscore its significance for aging populations.

    What’s At Risk
    “Each time I do this, I look forward to it and feel much better afterward—mentally, emotionally and physically.” – Study Participant

    The proposed development threatens the conditions that make Jericho Park effective as a therapeutic space. If the forest becomes noisy from construction and urbanization, shadowed by tall buildings, and/or overused, biodiversity will be impacted. It will undermine the park’s public health value, and that impact must be measured and made transparent to the community that relies on it for their health and well-being.

    Request to Council
    To protect Jericho Park’s public health value, I urge Council to:
    – Conduct a health and environmental impact assessment before approving further development phases.
    – Implement buffer zones and building height limits near park boundaries to protect forest microclimates.
    – Require acoustic and visual impact studies to preserve the sensory qualities essential to the park’s therapeutic effects.

    Preserving Jericho Park’s soundscape, biodiversity, and accessibility is a cost-effective public health strategy and a critical component of equitable urban planning. We cannot normalize the idea that we must “escape the city” to experience the benefits of nature.

    As Vancouver continues to face rising urban stress and climate challenges, I ask the Council to protect Jericho Park’s role in the city’s commitment to public health. I’m available to support the next steps or provide additional data points.

  • IUFRO 2024 – Forest Bathing in Canada

    Session: T4.15 Healing Power of Nature: Forest Therapy in Action
    Tuesday, June 25, 08:30 – 10:30 AM (CEST)

    Forest Bathing in Canada: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Environmental Influence on Health

    Presentation References

    Colley, R. C. et al. (2022, October 19). How sedentary are Canadian adults? It depends on the measure. https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202201000002-eng

    Colley, R. C., & Saunders, T. J. (2023, October 18). The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and screen time among Canadian adults. https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202301000002-eng

    Ipsos. (2024, May 29). Trails and Outdoor Recreation in BC. https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/trails-and-outdoor-recreation-in-bc

    Kellert, S. R. (1991). Japanese Perceptions of Wildlife. Conservation Biology, 5(3), 297–308. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2385899

    Mathias, S., Daigle, P., Dancause, K. N., & Gadais, T. (2020). Forest bathing: A narrative review of the effects on health for outdoor and environmental education use in Canada. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 23(3), 309–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-020-00058-3

    Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017). How Healthy are Canadians? [Education and awareness]. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/how-healthy-canadians.html

    Stats Canada (2018). An overview of Canada’s forest resources. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2018007-eng.htm

    Yeon, P.-S., Jeon, J.-Y., Jung, M.-S., Min, G.-M., Kim, G.-Y., Han, K.-M., Shin, M.-J., Jo, S.-H., Kim, J.-G., & Shin, W.-S. (2021). Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), Article 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312685

  • Forest Bathing for web3

    Episode 85: Punk1806, Tara Tiger Brown, Forrest Lover & PhD Candidate, UBC

    Timestamp: 15:04 – 24:22

    Summary of the Conversation

    Forest bathing, a concept originating from Japan in the early 1980s, was introduced by the director of the Forest Agency. This idea emerged during significant urbanization, with young people migrating from rural areas to cities. This shift led to increased stress levels, particularly among office workers, prompting a search for natural solutions.

    Researchers, including a Soviet chemist and a Japanese professor, explored the role of biogenic volatile organic compounds, like terpenes, emitted by trees. These compounds, used by trees for protection and communication, were theorized to offer health benefits to humans.
    The concept of forest bathing is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history. Humans, having evolved over millions of years, are biologically tuned to natural environments, unlike the artificial, built environments we often find ourselves in today. Forest bathing involves immersing oneself in nature, engaging all senses – from breathing the air and touching plants to observing natural patterns and listening to the sounds of nature.

    Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, environmental psychologists from the 1980s, developed the Attention Restoration Theory, which suggests that natural environments can help reduce mental fatigue. This theory points to ‘Soft Fascination’ – our brain’s effortless processing of natural patterns like leaves, branches, or flowing water, which provides a restorative break from the intense focus required in our daily lives.

    Being in nature not only alleviates mental fatigue but also reduces stress. Built environments with noise, air, and light pollution can elevate cortisol levels, leading to constant stress. In contrast, natural settings can lower stress and improve health markers like blood pressure.

    While individual responses vary based on health, geographic location, culture, and spirituality, the general principle holds. Even brief interactions with nature, such as looking out a window or viewing nature photographs, can be beneficial. However, the full multisensory experience of being outdoors is unmatched.

    When choosing a natural environment for forest bathing, safety and accessibility are paramount. Regular, short visits are more beneficial than infrequent, long sessions. Variety in these natural settings is also important to prevent habituation and to keep the environment engaging.

    My research aims to create dynamic park brochures considering various environmental attributes, including seasonal changes and weather conditions like wildfire smoke. As we face more extreme weather events due to climate change, indoor strategies for connecting with nature become equally important.

    The ideal natural setting for forest bathing combines safety, accessibility, biodiversity, and water features. Such environments allow for relaxation and a much-needed break from the stresses of modern life.