GEL 1.1 Relationship between People and Nature in their Neighbourhoods

What is the relationship between people and nature in their neighbourhoods?

How do people depend on nature? (1/3)

Provides essentials like air and water

How do people depend on nature? (2/3)

Animals like bees pollinate crops for continuous supply of food

How do people depend on nature? (3/3)

Provides space for recreation and leisure activities → enables people to bond with family and friends, maintaining physical and mental well-being

How does nature depend on people? (1/2)

Tends to the health of nature areas, ensuring plants and animals thrive there

How does nature depend on people? (2/2)

People encourage each other to enjoy nature areas sustainably without causing damage

What are the benefits that nature brings to people? (1/3)

Lowering air temperature: presence of vegetation→ shade→prevents sunlight from reaching the surface

Vegetation also cools the surrounding air via evapotranspiration

What are the benefits that nature brings to people? (2/3)

Removal of pollutants: via photosynthesis→ improves air quality through leaves intercepted and wetland plants absorbing excess nutrients

What are the benefits that nature brings to people? (3/3)

Provision of recreational spaces: opportunities for outdoor activities, improving the well-being of humans

What are the benefits that people bring to nature? (1/2)

Collectively raise awareness about the value of nature areas via encouragement of positive behavior

What are the benefits that people bring to nature? (2/2)

Organizing and participating in conservation efforts

What are the disadvantages that people bring to nature? (1/3)

Soil erosion: hiking along non-designated trails → trampling and damage of vegetation

What are the disadvantages that people bring to nature? (2/3)

Worsening pollution and disturbing wildlife: Littering: Animals can get hurt and entangled by the litter→ mistaking it for food and consuming it→ could be fatal

What are the disadvantages that people bring to nature? (3/3)

People may feed animals→changing the behaviors and habits of wildlife→ animals will associate food with humans→ increased conflicts between people and wildlife

What are the disadvantages that nature brings to humans? [Why encounters increase] (1/3)

Increased human-wildlife encounters, which lead to increased conflicts: Urban expansion in SG → natural habitats shrinking→ wildlife may venture out of nature areas in search of food and shelter

People are spending more time in nature areas

SG aims to bring nature back into the city, thus promoting the encounters

What are the disadvantages that nature brings to humans? (2/3)

Uneducated people not knowing how to handle wildlife→ unintentional provoking of animals→ attacks

What are the disadvantages that nature brings to humans? (3/3)

Some animals may be confused and fearful when venturing into unfamiliar urban spaces→ increased likelihood of attacks when triggered

How do people and nature mutually affect each other? (1/3)

Presence of green spaces and urban wildlife in neighborhoods→ enhances mental health and well-being of local communities

How do people and nature mutually affect each other? (2/3)

People enhance biodiversity: reforestation activities→ people gain enjoyment and increased mental well-being

How do people and nature mutually affect each other? (3/3)

Overall health of the natural environment is enforced: increased shelters and habitats for urban wildlife to thrive

Misc: Environmental protection may be perceived to be limiting development

Some people feel that the protection of nature is done at the expense of their own needs