FI have worked at the intersection of human health and the environment for most of my life. My family has been involved in health care for three generations, with a constant focus on improving people's well-being through science. I grew up surrounded by conversations about health, how the body functions, how to improve the quality of life, how science can help start a new life.
At the same time, I was lucky enough to spend my childhood in nature, from the Italian coast to the Swiss mountain peaks. Those first days at sea and in the mountains left an imprint that shaped me. I have never lived away from nature and therefore cannot imagine myself as a city girl. Then I felt how nature awakens us – how in nature we feel more alive, more curious, more connected to the world around us, to the connections that connect us to other living things, and to the cycle of life and death – and that this, too, is part of health.
We feel better in nature because we belong to it.
Over the years, I have come to understand that human health and the health of nature are inseparable from each other. These are two sides of the same coin. And as science and technology continue to advance, our progress in healthcare has expanded greatly, but we sometimes forget that it starts with the world around us. In our search for cures, we sometimes lose sight of the most powerful of them all: nature.
The healing power of nature
Nature itself has long been one of our greatest sources of healing. Many of our most effective drugs, including those for cancer and pain, are made from compounds. found in wild plants and marine organisms. Willow bark gave us the basis for aspirin, which is now used throughout the world to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. From the foxglove plant comes foxglove, a medicine that has saved countless lives by treating heart disease. Pink periwinkle, a small flower from Madagascar, has led to a breakthrough in cancer treatment. And sweet wormwood gave us artemisinin, a powerful medicine against malaria. These are just a few reminders that protecting biodiversity is not just about preserving species, it is also about protecting nature's pharmacy, a living source of medicine that has already transformed human health.
One ecosystem, one health
Science is increasingly confirming what many of us have long felt: our health depends on the health of nature. Concept One healthrecognized by the World Health Organization reflects this connection. It affirms that the well-being of people, animals and ecosystems are inseparable. This is one living system, constantly in balance.
When we lose biodiversity, we lose more than just the amazing species that inhabit our planet. We are losing stability in the systems that feed us, protect us, and heal us. Plankton drifting in the ocean produce most of the oxygen we breathe and support entire food webs. Microbial life in forests and soils filters the water we drink and enriches the crops that nourish us. Every loss of biodiversity weakens this web of life, and with it our own resilience.
And as we lose these benefits, we also create new risks. When marine ecosystems are degraded, toxins and microplastic penetrate into the food we eat and the water we drink. When air pollution worsens, rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases increase. These are not isolated environmental problems, they are symptoms of the same imbalance.
Reunion for well-being
Nature's ability to support us is not only ecological. This is deeply personal. More and more research shows that spending time in nature reduces stresslowers blood pressure and strengthens the immune system. A large study in the United Kingdom found that those who spent at least two hours a week outdoors were 59 percent more likely to report good health and 23 percent more likely to report good health, regardless of age, income or location. Other studies show that even brief moments in nature, a walk in the park, the sound of birds singing, or the sight of water can relieve stress, calm the mind, and sharpen our focus.
This is not a luxury or a coincidence. They remind us of how closely our bodies and minds are tuned to the natural rhythms around us. Over millions of years, humans have evolved in connection with the natural world. We feel better in nature because we belong to it.
By creating reserves for nature, we create reserves for ourselves.
This connection between nature and well-being is particularly strong and increasingly necessary for young people. And yet, alone long-term study in the United States found that between 1981 and 2003, children's time spent outdoors fell by about half. Time spent outdoors builds confidence, curiosity, and empathy—qualities that cannot be taught in any classroom. Through my program Sow my dreamwho encourages schools to take learning beyond the classroom, I have seen how nature can awaken something important in children: a sense of wonder and belonging, and the critical thinking and passion that fuels the mind, body and heart. A passion that they can carry with them throughout their lives, no matter what path they choose.
Our common ground
However, in our increasingly urban and digital world, nature has become something we visit rather than something we live in. Restoring this connection not only strengthens our health, but also our communities. Green and blue spaces bring people together, restore spirits, and foster a sense of belonging and purpose. When people have access to nature, they are more likely to be active, interact with others, and care for the places they share. Reconnecting with nature as a community, whether in schools, neighborhoods or workplaces, shows that well-being is not only personal but also shared.
Our parks, rivers, forests and vast ocean carry the truth that what supports one community supports us all. This is why caring for these shared spaces is not only an environmental duty, but also an act of mutual care. This is the idea behind the Convention on Biological Diversity's global goal of 30×30, which aims to protect at least 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean by 2030.
Medicine is all around us
When we create sanctuaries for nature, we also create sanctuaries for ourselves, places where life can be restored, harmony can return and future generations can thrive. Protecting nature is not about keeping people out; It's about giving life room to grow so that humanity can flourish too.
Our prosperity rises and falls with the health of the planet. Every action we take to care for nature—protecting land and oceans, conserving biodiversity, and making room for wildlife—is an investment in a healthier, more sustainable future.
The more we care for nature, the more it gives back to us.
The medicine we have needed all along is all around us. We just need to accept it.
Lead image: courtesy of Dona Bertarelli.
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