Despite being happier in nature, most Canadians spend less time in it

By Staff Writer

If you find yourself opting for a night in curled by the TV rather than venturing to the great outdoors for a camping trip, you’re not alone. A new survey from the Nature Conservancy of Canada found that even though 90% of participants extolled being in the outdoors, around 75% of them found it easier to stay inside.

The survey was distributed online to 2000 participants, two thirds of which said they spend less time outside now as they did when they were younger. Rain, snow, and insects were some of the reasons listed for staying in, even though many reported  reduced stress and even blood pressure when they spent time outside.

Additionally, the survey found that 80% of participants feared that nature won’t be as readily available for future generations to enjoy.

John Lounds, the president of Nature Conservancy Canada, has said that Canadians need to work together to protect our environment so it can be enjoyed now and in the future.

“We are at a turning point,” he said in a statement. “It’s time to talk boldly about the tangible benefits that nature provides, and the urgency and importance of protecting it. Nature is Canada’s gift to the world and we have an opportunity, perhaps more than any other country, to make conservation count. It will take young and old alike, working together, to protect the land, water and wildlife so unique to Canada.”

The survey comes in light of the Nature Conservancy’s announcement of the Landmark Campaign, which aims to double the land and water conserved by the Nature Conservancy to over 6 million acres.

According to Natural Resources Canada, Canada currently has 857-million acres of forest, making up nearly a tenth of the world’s forests.