Myriad Scientific Data Proves Green Space Is
Good for People & the Planet
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- For 15 years the TurfMutt Foundation has advocated
for the care and use of yards, parks, and other green spaces. These
outdoor areas facilitate "backyarding," the act of taking every day
activities that we normally do inside into the outdoor spaces
around us such as dining, working, relaxing and more. This not only
makes life more enjoyable, but it also improves the health and
well-being of people pets and the planet.
"Over the years, we've seen the benefits to families,
communities and wildlife by having accessible green space to help
balance our man-made environments," said TurfMutt CEO &
President Kris Kiser. "The benefits
of nature – which starts right out our backdoors – are vast, and
there is a wealth of scientific evidence to support the argument
for growing our green space."
Here are the top 5 reasons we need more managed green space in
our backyards and communities:
Environmental Benefits
Plants, shrubs, trees,
and grass are "environmental superheroes" that capture
and filter rainwater, produce oxygen, and absorb carbon. The dense
canopy and fibrous root system in a lawn sequesters carbon
so well that it outweighs the carbon used for maintaining the
grass by as much as seven-fold. An average-sized home
lawn in the U.S. has the potential to sequester
20.3 to 163.4 kg C/lawn/year. Planting trees results
in less runoff and erosion, allowing more recharging
of the ground water supply and resulting in less sediment and
chemicals in streams.
Physical Well-Being
The physical health benefits of
spending time in green space are vast. A review of research
published between 1976 and 2017 found consistent associations
between greater urban green space exposure and decreased mortality,
heart rate, and violence, as well as between greater urban green
space exposure and increased attention, mood, and physical
activity. Living near green spaces could add 2.5 years to your
life, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal
Science Advances. Additionally, people living near green
spaces, including parks, age slower than those in dense urban
environments.
Mental Health
Spending time in green space also makes
us happier and improves our mental well-being. According to
a systematic review of research, green spaces decrease the
risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety,
dementia, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Additionally, visits to parks,
community gardens, and other urban green spaces may lower city
dwellers' use of drugs for anxiety, insomnia, depression, high
blood pressure, and asthma.
Financial Advantages
Having more green in your yard
can add more green to your pocketbook. According to a study
conducted by the Harris Poll for the TurfMutt Foundation, nearly
three-quarters of Americans overall (72 percent) say a spacious
yard would be at the top of their wish list if they were looking
for a new home. A beautiful landscape improves curb appeal, which
can increase home value by as much as 17 percent. Each front
yard tree adds one percent to a homeowner's sale price, while large
specimen trees can add 10 percent to property values.
Wildlife Corridors
Wildlife – including
pollinating birds, butterflies, bees – have had to adapt to the
human-made environment. Having the proper green space that blooms
throughout the year in backyards and community parks plays a
critical role in helping animals and insects thrive by reconnecting
fragmented habitats into a connected ecosystem. To find the best
plants to support backyard critters in your area, consult the
National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant
Finder.
Backyarding is most beneficial when practicing the "right
plant, right place" principle. This means selecting plants that
support your family's lifestyle and ones that will thrive in your
climate zone with minimal work on your part. Refer to the USDA's
Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find the plants, shrubs and trees that
are best suited for your yard. If pets are in the picture, you will
want to choose pet-friendly plantings. The ASPCA has a list of
non-toxic plants that are safe for pets.
For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with
backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation
here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit
TurfMutt.com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog
television show on Saturday mornings.
Media contact
Debbi
Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of the TurfMutt Foundation,
240-988-6243, debbi@fourleafpr.com
About TurfMutt
TurfMutt, which is celebrating its
15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor
Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has
reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since
2009. Championed by Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt,
and through education partners such as Weekly Reader, Discovery
Education and Scholastic, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers
how to "save the planet, one yard at a time." Today, TurfMutt is an
official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their
global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt has been an education resource at the
U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S.
Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance
for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project,
Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the
coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial
Series. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat was featured in the
2017-2020 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at
www.TurfMutt.com.
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SOURCE TurfMutt Foundation