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Trees, Tech, and Togetherness:
Nature's Role in Easing Urban Loneliness
By Nadina Galle
This event, held in conjunction with the Partners
in Community Forestry Conference, is gen-
erously supported by PlanIT Geo.
In a world where social media offers thousands of
virtual connections, same-day delivery brings every-
thing to our doorstep, and remote work keeps us tied to
our screens, Americans are paradoxically feeling more
alone than ever. These modern conveniences, while
incredibly efficient, have quietly eroded our face-to-
face interactions with family, friends, neighbors, and
colleagues, leading to an alarming rise in loneliness.
While loneliness has slightly diminished since the
American Psychiatric Association (APA) recorded an all-
time high during the pandemic, their latest poll reveals
a sobering reality: about one in three U.S. adults feel
lonely at least once a week. Even more concerning, one
in ten Americans experience loneliness every single day.
This issue is particularly pronounced among younger
people. Nearly 30% of respondents aged 18 to 34
report feeling lonely every day or several times a week,
highlighting a profound lack of meaningful relation-
ships and a sense of belonging among the youth.
It's a topic I rarely get the chance to discuss.
As an ecological engineer and the author of The Nature
of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World
to Survive a Changing Planet, my focus is usually on how
nature can create sustainable and resilient communi-
ties. However, in a world grappling with extreme heat,
devastating floods, and unprecedented wildfires, the
conversation rarely shifts to nature's role in combating
mental health issues. Like loneliness itself, this topic
often gets swept under the rug. Though it may seem
like a fleeting emotion, loneliness is both pervasive and
dangerous. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), it is linked to higher
risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depres-
sion, anxiety, addiction, dementia, and early death.
So when Leslie Berckes, Executive Director of the
Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS),
invited me to deliver the keynote on the impact
of trees on loneliness at their upcoming confer-
ence and tradeshow, I jumped at the chance.
On November 19, 2024, in Chicago, in conjunction
with the Partners in Community Forestry Conference
presented by the Arbor Day Foundation, I'll be pre-
senting my keynote, "Trees, Tech, and Togetherness:
Nature's Role in Easing Urban Loneliness." As someone
deeply passionate about blending nature and tech-
nology, I can't wait to showcase cutting-edge global
initiatives that reveal how tech can reconnect us with
the natural world—and bring us closer to each other.
Our craving for genuine relationships is as ancient
as humanity itself. From the earliest hunter-gatherer
societies, where our very survival depended on close-
knit groups, to today's world, our need for connection
remains just as vital. Even in infancy, we rely on strong
attachment bonds with caregivers for our well-being. >>
We're excited to welcome our keynote
speaker at our Chicago conference, Dr.
Nadina Galle, presenting at 8:40 a.m. on
Tuesday, November 19. Please read on!
Conference Keynote
