helplessness (Gidlöf-Gunnarsson and Öhrström 2007). In a study of perceptions
about soundscapes, researchers compared subjective ratings to objective decibel
measurements (Yang and Kang 2005). People rated human-made and natural
sound differently, preferring the natural even if the sound levels are high. In a similar
study (Pheasant et al. 2008), participants rated loud biological noises (wind, water,
birds) as desirable, suggesting that a tranquil experience can be engineered within
urban environments.
8.5.3 Importance of Mindfulness
Meditation is an act of intentional focus on breathing, a repeated word or phrase, an
object in the visual field, tension or physical sensations, or specific thoughts or
personal reflections. Benefits of meditation include lowered heart rate; lowered
blood pressure; improved metabolism; improved respiration; improved cognitive
functions; longer attention spans; and improved perceptual ability, memory, intelligence, and empathy (Desbordes et al. 2012). In addition, mindfulness is described as
“being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present” with resulting
benefits (Brown and Ryan 2003). Mindfulness enhances the richness and vitality of
moment-to-moment experiences. Mindfulness training may also enhance certain
elements of attention.
The enhanced sensory influences of nature experiences support a state of mindfulness and meditative practices (Kaplan 2001). Key psychological needs may be
met through affiliation with nature, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Capaldi et al. 2014). These needs also correlate with outcomes of mindfulness.
Mindfulness enhances self-regulated functioning; that is, mindfulness sensitizes
individuals to intrinsic signals, allowing people to better regulate themselves toward
meeting their needs (Brown and Ryan 2003).
8.6 Civic Environmental Stewardship
Environmental stewardship (ES) may be framed by some professionals as a commitment to biodiversity and ecological goals. Yet individual volunteers are strongly
motivated by many personal, social, and economic purposes (Ryan et al. 2001;
Moskell et al. 2010; Wolf et al. 2011). Green infrastructure can offer opportunities
and new contexts for people to become stewards of ecosystem services (Andersson
et al. 2014). Across some cities, thousands of residents commit to caring for
landscapes and nature in association with organizations and agencies. Stewardship
occurs across the entire landscape gradient, from wildlands to urban areas, and is
conducted on both public and private lands. Within cities, volunteers of all ages
participate in projects and work that may include park management, open space
restoration, street tree planting, and development of community gardens.
8 From Sanitary to Sustainable to Sacred: Metro Nature Experiences and. . .
149
about soundscapes, researchers compared subjective ratings to objective decibel
measurements (Yang and Kang 2005). People rated human-made and natural
sound differently, preferring the natural even if the sound levels are high. In a similar
study (Pheasant et al. 2008), participants rated loud biological noises (wind, water,
birds) as desirable, suggesting that a tranquil experience can be engineered within
urban environments.
8.5.3 Importance of Mindfulness
Meditation is an act of intentional focus on breathing, a repeated word or phrase, an
object in the visual field, tension or physical sensations, or specific thoughts or
personal reflections. Benefits of meditation include lowered heart rate; lowered
blood pressure; improved metabolism; improved respiration; improved cognitive
functions; longer attention spans; and improved perceptual ability, memory, intelligence, and empathy (Desbordes et al. 2012). In addition, mindfulness is described as
“being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present” with resulting
benefits (Brown and Ryan 2003). Mindfulness enhances the richness and vitality of
moment-to-moment experiences. Mindfulness training may also enhance certain
elements of attention.
The enhanced sensory influences of nature experiences support a state of mindfulness and meditative practices (Kaplan 2001). Key psychological needs may be
met through affiliation with nature, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Capaldi et al. 2014). These needs also correlate with outcomes of mindfulness.
Mindfulness enhances self-regulated functioning; that is, mindfulness sensitizes
individuals to intrinsic signals, allowing people to better regulate themselves toward
meeting their needs (Brown and Ryan 2003).
8.6 Civic Environmental Stewardship
Environmental stewardship (ES) may be framed by some professionals as a commitment to biodiversity and ecological goals. Yet individual volunteers are strongly
motivated by many personal, social, and economic purposes (Ryan et al. 2001;
Moskell et al. 2010; Wolf et al. 2011). Green infrastructure can offer opportunities
and new contexts for people to become stewards of ecosystem services (Andersson
et al. 2014). Across some cities, thousands of residents commit to caring for
landscapes and nature in association with organizations and agencies. Stewardship
occurs across the entire landscape gradient, from wildlands to urban areas, and is
conducted on both public and private lands. Within cities, volunteers of all ages
participate in projects and work that may include park management, open space
restoration, street tree planting, and development of community gardens.
8 From Sanitary to Sustainable to Sacred: Metro Nature Experiences and. . .
149