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Health Promotion International, Vol. 21 No. 1 The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. doi:10.1093/heapro/dai032 For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@ Advance access publication 22 December 2005 Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations CECILY MALLER, MARDIE TOWNSEND, ANITA PRYOR*, PETER BROWN and LAWRENCE ST LEGER Affiliated with the NiCHE Research Team (Nature in Community, Health and Environment) of the School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia SUMMARY Whilst urban-dwelling individuals who seek out parks and population-wide strategy in prevention of mental ill health, gardens appear to intuitively understand the personal with potential application for sub-populations, communit- health and well-being benefits arising from ‘contact with ies and individuals at higher risk of ill health. Recommenda- nature’, public health strategies are yet to maximize the tions include further investigation of ‘contact with nature’ in untapped resource nature provides, including the benefits population health, and examination of the benefits of of nature contact as an upstream health promotion interven- nature-based interventions. To maximize use of ‘contact tion for populations. This paper presents a summary of with nature’ in the health promotion of populations, collab- empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence drawn from orative strategies between researchers and primary health, a literature review of the human health benefits of contact social services, urban planning and environmental manage- with nature. Initial findings indicate that nature plays a ment sectors are required. This approach offers not only an vital role in human health and well-being, a