One of the most important things nature can offer humans is better health. Research has found that humans who accumulate two hours of time a week in nature, which can be accomplished all at once or spread out throughout the week, report overall better health.

Health benefits vary widely. Being in green spaces lowers blood pressure and reduces anxieties. It improves self-esteem and improves the ability of the immune system to function. Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and aggressive tendencies lessen in nature.

Exposure to the sun's light helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, which is linked to various health benefits. Higher levels of Vitamin D are linked to lessened risks of osteoporosis, cancer, and tuberculosis—as long as precautions are taken to prevent overexposure to the sun's most damaging rays.

The link between nature and learning is gaining momentum, so much so that "forest schools," which Scandinavians have utilized for years, are increasing rapidly in the United States. These schools seek to provide as much instruction as possible outdoors, using natural materials as often as possible to facilitate learning.

Healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the role of nature in health and healing, and many are now prescribing nature as part of healing plans. The Trust for Public Lands has mapped available green spaces across the United States with the goal of making a natural space available for everyone in America within a ten-minute walk.

Research abounds that nature provides restorative physical and mental benefits for mankind, and increasingly people are being asked to consider how to implement more time surrounded by nature's offerings—and less time tied to technology.