Wetlands and our well-being

Wetlands are areas where my grandparents introduced me to birding, with flocks of thousands of migratory snow geese piquing my interest. I’ve now been birding for 12 years and have the privilege to bird in and around the ecologically diverse delta of the Fraser River. I also love to spend time outdoors, and wetlands and riparian habitats are some of my favourite places to explore.

– Samuel, British Columbia

I’m an avid amateur nature and wildlife photographer, and the positive impact of being in natural spaces has literally saved my life. After having cancer for a second time, while I was recuperating, I was counting the days until I was healed enough to head outdoors and capture some beautiful nature pics. It was the carrot at the end of the stick, the thought of watching birds and ducks and losing myself and my worries was a great healer.

– Susie, British Columbia

Over the years, my love for nature has only gotten stronger. These spaces become a canvas for bonding with our elders and our children, learning from one another and how we each view the world different. From hunting and fishing, to gathering, or simply looking at the scene, it is here that some of my favourite memories exist.

– Christopher, British Columbia

Being outside, particularly in wetlands, has been valuable to me since I was a kid. I grew up near “spring creek,” a water management wetland in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This was a magical place that helped me fall in love with nature (the mud, the birds, the snakes and most importantly, the water). Wetlands are still an important place to me – a place where I like to walk my dog and spend time alone. Shout-out to the ecosystem services that wetlands provide for everyone else!

– Niko, Saskatchewan

I suffered a terrible loss in 2022; it was the worst time of my life. Being outside, in the forest, by a river, or on the shores of a lake, gave me peace. It helped heal the part of my soul that was cracked. The quiet and steady pace of the woods and the water created a sense of calm that I thought was no longer possible. I still go to the woods or the shore when I’m struggling.

– Jessica, Ontario

Some of my fondest memories are time spent in nature, from when I was a kid to now. I often seek out spots to go listen to the birds, their busy little lives bring peace and quiet to days when my mind is busy. Sitting and watching the flutter of leaves and wings reminds me how we are all connected.

– Caroline, Ontario

My mental health has taken a complete 180 since relocating to an area where I have direct access to a lake and a yard. I spend my mornings outside feeling the wind on my face, hearing the birds and bees and the rustling of the leaves in the trees. I am grounded and feel at home with myself and in my surroundings. It has been life-changing and life-saving.

– Courtney, Ontario

I’ve always found a special kind of tranquility in wetlands. The sound of water, the chorus of birds, and the rustling of reeds have a calming effect that I haven’t found anywhere else. Visiting these areas has helped manage stress and anxiety, leading to improved mental health. It’s a reminder of the simple beauty of nature and the need to protect it.

– Doris, Quebec

I grew up surrounded by wetlands in New Brunswick. I learned when I was young to appreciate nature and what it can do for the health of our planet. I continue to be inspired by the wetlands and their diversity everyday expressing through my art.

– Emily, New Brunswick

I think COVID hit us all pretty hard in the mental health department, but when things started getting heavy I could always turn myself around if I could lay in the sun, floating on a paddleboard. If I could get my fly rod out and wade down to my favourite fishing spot, it didn’t matter if the fish were biting or not. I was just there to be alive.

– Jeremy, Prince Edward Island

Hiking in the outdoors has always been a favourite hobby of mine, and helped me discover my passion for conservation. I’ve been working for two years on salmon recovery now and loving every minute of it!

– Alex, Nova Scotia

Not just a walk in the park: The science behind the feels we get in nature

Considering that the respondents to our poll and sweepstakes told us that spending time in nature improves mood, reduces stress and supports physical exercise, we need to be doing everything we can to promote it,” says Janine Massey, DUC’s chief marketing and communications officer. “People noted that nature connects them with loved ones, educational opportunities, wildlife, and even provides an opportunity for their body to heal and recover,” continues Massey.

Those results aren’t surprising to experts like environmental psychologist Lindsay McCunn, PhD, a professor with Vancouver Island University.

“So much environmental psychology literature exists that supports your findings — and other facets of the modern human-nature relationship,” notes McCunn, who, along with colleagues with the Canadian Psychological Association, prepared a position paper in 2021 titled Addressing Climate Change in Canada: The Importance of Psychological Science. The authors drew upon the science and practice of psychology, particularly in the areas of mental health, environmental psychology and behaviour change, to inform how Canada responds to climate change threats. Among their findings:

• Natural landscapes increase positive emotions and reduce negative emotions.
• Living near to a natural landscape reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress in the long-term.
• Children who live near nature cope better with stress and develop psychological resilience.
• Contact with nature increases pro-social behaviours like helpfulness and generosity, and improves attention, working memory and self-control.

From their review of the literature, the authors included recommendations for federal, provincial and territorial governments such as preserving and protecting natural landscapes and parks in all areas of the country, including those in urban areas. As well, they emphasized showing the important personal, social and economic benefits of climate-positive actions.

McCunn notes that “sense of place” which, in environmental psychology, includes three dimensions — place attachment, place identity, and place dependence — is another key factor in how connected people feel to the outdoors. “For example, you might feel a sense of place toward a physical setting if you have an emotional, symbolic or spiritual relationship with that space. People form a positive bond to places in which they feel comfort and belonging,” says McMunn, adding it is these same places that people are more willing and likely to protect.

For Massey, connecting people to wetlands is key to cultivating that sense of place.

So, the next time you take a break in nature, invite friends and family along. Better yet, take them to a local wetland. You never know how a simple act of spending time outdoors might lead someone down the path of well-being…and conservation.