Natural spaces: health, leisure and respect for the environment

Being in contact with nature has countless benefits for our physical and mental health. The bond between human beings and the natural environment is ancestral, and this connection is becoming as necessary as it is healthy for those of us who now live mostly in urban areas.

Experts point out that regular contact with nature improves people's health and well-being. Seeing the color green reduces stress, improves mood, lowers blood pressure, and rests the eyes. This recurring contact promotes mental health, increases the body's defenses, and helps one sleep much better.

Green spaces (urban parks, gardens, forests...) and blue spaces (rivers, lakes, beaches...) are the best setting to enjoy leisure time. They allow for physical activity, relaxing and recovering from daily obligations, learning new things, sharing time with family and friends, or making new ones. That is why it is essential to take care of these spaces full of life to continue enjoying them.

From COVID-19 until now

The need to maintain this contact with nature skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic period. Images of crowds of people in all kinds of places or cars stopped and poorly parked on the roadsides became common, with the consequent problems of mobility and preservation of the environment.

The significant increase in the influx of visitors and uncivil behavior in natural parks led the Government of Catalonia, together with other administrations, to promote an awareness campaign that now continues with a new idea: nature belongs to you.

The way we take care of our natural environment and relate to it also determines what we receive from it. When we access it responsibly and make use of the resources at our disposal, we contribute to keeping natural spaces and parks alive. Thus, we can continue to enjoy the forests, beaches, the sea, the rivers, and the mountains of Catalonia in their best version.

The website espaisnaturals.cat contains all the necessary information with routes, itineraries, and the best recommendations. Knowing how to access natural spaces responsibly to minimize the impact of the visit and involve citizens in their conservation, to maintain a good balance between enjoying and protecting, continues to be the goal of awareness among the population.

The best gateway

Official itineraries are the best gateway to discover protected areas, and the official information provided by the Generalitat de Catalunya gives us the keys to do so. Planning the visit and informing ourselves beforehand about current regulation measures—such as whether it is necessary to book parking, use a shuttle bus to access the area, or take into account possible restricted zones—is essential to enjoy the space in a responsible and respectful way with the environment.

It is important to keep in mind that inappropriate behavior can have a negative impact on the space. Informing ourselves beforehand and following official instructions is key to minimizing it, especially in places with a large influx of visitors, where a responsible attitude contributes to preserving the environment.

Coexistence between visitors, leisure activities, and people living in the territory is key to protecting natural spaces and enjoying them today and in the future. Informing oneself prior to the visit and following official itineraries allows for better discovery of natural spaces and recreation in a respectful manner. If we respect the itineraries and the rules, we contribute to preserving biodiversity and reducing the environmental footprint. Visiting a park responsibly means improving it.

In Catalonia, there is a great diversity of natural spaces that can be enjoyed even more if done in a respectful way. Official itineraries and available tools allow for a complete, safe, and high-quality experience, while protecting biodiversity and ensuring coexistence with the territory.

Caring for nature, respecting it, and enjoying it responsibly has a response that is priceless: it contributes to our well-being and our health. Because when we take care of nature, nature responds to us.