Brazil Study Finds Green Spaces Cut Stress and Respiratory Hospitalizations

Research by the Max Planck Institute in Germany found that spending just one hour in a forest can significantly lower stress levels. In a controlled experiment, volunteers who walked through a forest showed reduced activation of the amygdala, a brain region linked to stress responses, compared with participants who walked on a busy city street.

A separate study by researchers at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná examined the impact of urban green infrastructure on respiratory health across 397 municipalities in the state. Using public health, census and geospatial data, they showed that cities with more parks, gardens and tree cover experienced fewer hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. The findings suggest that expanding green areas could improve public health and reduce healthcare costs, providing evidence for policymakers to promote sustainable urban planning.