Biophilia: For the Love of Nature, Part 1 (Introduction)

“Love of life is human nature.”

– Biophilia Network

When you go for a walk or stroll in the woods, have you ever thought about how the experience makes you feel? Think back to a time when you were in nature. Did it make you feel calm and relaxed as you took pause in the tranquility of the forest? Did it make you feel inspired and motivated as you became overwhelmed and awestruck by the indescribable beauty of nature? Did it make you feel connected and whole as you immersed in the sights, sounds, or scents of the weald? After you emerged, did you feel recharged and revitalized from bathing in the solitude of the wilderness, away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Regardless of the feeling you had, the fact of the matter is – you felt it. And that, dear friend, is the feeling of biophilia. Biophilia: For the Love of Nature is a four-part mini-series that explores our affiliation with nature and the whimsical world of green infrastructure, from how it benefits us and the earth to how it is integrated into cities and urban areas around the globe. Part one is an introduction to the origin, definition, and concept of biophilia, how it is expressed in modern society, and the benefits it can provide for us and our planet. BIOPHILIA Biophilia is a portmanteau of the Greek root prefix, bio– (“life”) and suffix, –philia (“friendship, affection, tendency toward”), which can be loosely translated as “a love of living organisms or systems”. The term biophilia was first used by psychologist Erich Fromm (The Heart of Man: Its Genius For Good and Evil, 1964) and popularized by myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson (Biophilia, 1984). In his publications, Wilson further postulated the biophilia hypothesis, or the theory that humans possess an intrinsic affinity with nature and subconsciously pursue connections with other life forms. In the modern era, the conceptualization of biophilia predominantly involves living and working with nature when designing, installing and maintaining infrastructure or landscapes. The biophilia hypothesis has manifested as permaculture systems in modern human society, such as green infrastructure in urban areas.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Potential components of green infrastructure that can be engineered to achieve sustainability in urban cities. © European Commission, 2013.

Green infrastructure is a systematically engineered network of natural or naturalized areas with multifunctional environmentalisms designed to deliver a variety of ecosystem goods and services for public use (European Commission, 2013). Green infrastructure is considered a nexus of the three pillars of sustainability – environment, society and economy. Green infrastructure combines alternative land use practices with ecological principles to achieve healthy and sustainable urban ecosystems that mimic nature as closely as possible. A characteristic green infrastructure zone encompasses multiple industries or enterprises within an interdependent network that preserve natural resources, wildlife and connectivity. Green infrastructure can be engineered under a multitude of architectural designs including green roofs, green walls, rain gardens, rain harvesting systems, bioswales, permeable pavers, wildlife overpasses and urban naturalization.

Benefits of Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure can provide a multitude of ecosystem goods and services for human society representing economic, ecological and social values. © Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2010.

What Can Green Infrastructure Do For Your City? Ecological

• Defends against natural disasters such as floods, landslides, wildfires and storms.

• Alleviates inundation by decreasing stormwater volume, speed and accumulation from roofs, gutters and downspouts.

• Enhances water quality for ponds, aquifers, water reservoirs, watershed catchment areas and stormwater management systems by filtering chemical contaminants from industrial runoff.

• Promotes soil conservation by intercepting stormwater runoff, stabilizing erosion, segregating indurated solum and replenishing soil nutrients.

• Mitigates urban heat island effects by regulating climatological, hydrological, thermal and atmospheric dynamics (5–15ºC).

• Improves air quality by assimilating gaseous pollutants and atmospheric particulates.

• Reduces carbon emissions by minimizing or eliminating fossil fuels.

• Sequesters atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gas emissions (CO2).

• Preserves biodiversity, connectivity and wildlife resources for a variety of organisms.

• Regulates pest populations in agroecosystems.

Social

• Promotes psychological health by encouraging a sense of belonging, security and relaxation.

• Promotes physical and mental health by diversifying outdoor recreational opportunities, encouraging outdoor exploration and stimulating intellectual development such as cognitive function, learning skills and memory plasticity.

• Institutes “community cohesion” between residents by improving social relationships that foster a nurturing and supportive environment.

• Increases aesthetic value by beautifying monotypic or devaluated land.

• Attenuates sound intensity by absorbing and deflecting sound frequencies (dB).

Economic

• Extends lifespan of base infrastructure by protecting against ultraviolet (UVA, UVB) deterioration.

• Increases energy efficiency via heat conduction and transpiration cooling.

• Decreases utility expenses (50–60%).

• Enhances property values (10–25%).

• Diversifies economy by generating tourism, recreation and employment opportunities.

• Offers integrated transport and energy solutions.

• Improves employee productivity and reduces absenteeism.

---

Stay tuned for our next installment in November! Biophilia: For the Love of Nature, Part 2 (Green Roofs & Green Walls).

For more information about the author, or to inquire about articles or stories for publication, please visit our website!