Nature Report Links Wildlife Trends to Human Well-Being

Billed as the first comprehensive report on the state of U.S. lands, water, and wildlife, the Nature Record National Assessment includes the decline of butterfly populations and other species to the remarkable comeback of the bald eagle.

It’s not limited to non-human species, however, as the assessment also includes a chapter on how we humans—the species responsible for many environmental changes—feel connected to nature.

“Originally the report was very focused on ecology and biology and didn’t really think about the kinds of human interaction with nature and how that connection is really important,” said John Coley, professor of psychology and marine and environmental sciences at Northeastern University.