REI Co-op and the Nature & Health Alliance have launched the American Nature & Health Survey, a recurring national study designed to examine Americans’ relationship with nature, the obstacles they face to spending time outside and the role nature plays in their health and well-being.

Unlike recreation participation studies that focus primarily on outdoor activities, the new survey considers Americans’ broader experiences with nature, including their perceptions, access, health connections and barriers. It will be conducted every two years, creating a long-term benchmark for measuring how the nation’s relationship with the natural world changes over time.

Initial findings reveal a substantial gap between how strongly Americans value nature and how much time they spend outdoors. Eighty-four percent of respondents consider protecting nature essential or very important, and 79 percent agree that wild, open and natural spaces are part of being American. Yet nearly 45 percent reported spending fewer than two hours in nature during the previous week, compared with 25 percent a decade ago.

The survey also points to an opportunity for health care professionals to encourage greater exposure to nature. Although 83 percent of respondents said they would spend more time outdoors if a health care provider recommended it, only 20 percent reported ever receiving that advice.

Jay Maddock, Ph.D., Regents Professor at Texas A&M University and a leader within the Nature & Health Alliance, says the disconnect underscores the need for a long-term benchmark. The findings can give researchers, health care leaders, community organizations and policymakers a shared foundation for identifying trends, barriers and opportunities.

Developed with Texan by Nature, the research was supported by the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-supported nonprofit that invests in organizations working to make the outdoors more accessible. Community planners, parks departments, conservation organizations and policymakers can use the findings to guide programs, investments and policies that expand equitable access to nature and strengthen its connection to human well-being.

For more information and the complete survey brief, visit NatureAndHealthAlliance.org/american-nature-and-health-survey.