Research suggests that birdsong, a sound of nature, could help improve people’s mental health. However, this could be at risk as the environment becomes more toxic.
The study analyzed data from more 7,500 people, which was part of BBC series Forest 404. It was a podcast that showed a world without natural elements.
People listened in on a variety environments, including a forest setting in the UK and a tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea.
Researchers modified the sounds to make them more recognizable by changing the features that could be heard.
We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have positive experiences with nature today if we are to harness the health benefits of nature in the future.
Participants reported experiencing therapeutic effects when they listened to landscape sounds like breaking waves and falling rain.
The study found that hearing birdsong from wildlife in these environments increased the possibility of sound effects providing relief from stress and mental fatigue.
Alex Smalley of the University of Exeter was the researcher. He said that when cities and towns became quieter in recent lockdowns many people rediscovered the natural sounds all around them.
Our research suggests that preserving these experiences could be beneficial for both your mental health and conservation behavior.
They also serve as a stark warning to the fact that memories do matter when it comes down to nature.
If we want to harness nature’s health benefits in future, we must ensure that everyone has opportunities to have positive experiences today with the natural world.
The results could also be strongly affected by past experiences.
People with memories triggered from the sounds found them more therapeutic. This was linked to their desire for the soundscapes to be preserved for future generations.
However, when there was no evidence of a decline in environmental quality, the potential for psychological benefits fell. People’s motivation to preserve those ecosystems seemed to decrease as well.
The study was a multi-institution collaboration among the BBC Natural History Unit (BBC Radio 4), the University of Exeter, Bristol and the Open University.
It is published by the journal Global Environmental Change.
