The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) introduced a groundbreaking resolution at its 116th Annual Meeting, formally recognizing nature as a core component of each of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. By acknowledging activities such as walking, hiking, fishing, hunting and habitat stewardship, the statement positions outdoor engagement as a catalyst for physical movement, social connectedness, mental resilience and disease prevention.
“Nature is one of our most accessible, yet underused, resources for whole-person health,” said John Findley, MD, CEO of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). He highlighted emerging data that links time outdoors to lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, diminished inflammation and improved sleep quality. The resolution therefore underscores a simple truth: stepping outside can simultaneously address nutrition, activity, sleep, stress, connection and substance-avoidance.
Strategic partnership bridges health, research and conservation
The resolution also paves the way for a formal alliance among AFWA, ACLM and the Nature and Health Alliance (NHA). This tri-partite collaboration will coordinate scientific studies, public-health messaging and conservation initiatives, ensuring that evidence-based nature prescriptions are paired with sustainable wildlife management. The alliance grew out of the work of AFWA’s One Health Committee a cross-sector team that examines how wildlife, ecosystems and human health intersect.
“We are excited to see the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies recognize the important connection between healthy people and a healthy natural world,” noted Dr. Jennifer Roberts, chair of NHA. She stressed that the partnership creates a platform for joint research grants, shared educational resources and community outreach that can amplify the health benefits of green spaces while protecting the very habitats that provide them.
From public interest to clinical practice: surveys and upcoming CME
A recent American Nature & Health Survey, conducted with REI Co-op, revealed that 83% of respondents would increase outdoor time if a health professional recommended it, yet only 20% have actually received such guidance. This gap signals a clear opportunity for clinicians to integrate nature-based counseling into routine care.
To address the shortfall, ACLM plans to roll out a Nature and Health CME/CE course in 2027, developed alongside NHA and funded by the REI Cooperative Action Fund. The curriculum will equip physicians, nurses and allied health providers with the scientific rationale, safety considerations and practical tools needed to prescribe time outdoors responsibly.
Economic and environmental ripple effects
Beyond individual wellness, the resolution acknowledges the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy as a national health engine. Jessica Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, described the initiative as aligning with the vision of an “America’s Outdoor Era,” where safe, convenient access to parks and waterways becomes a standard component of public health strategy.
Missouri Department of Conservation Director Jason Sumners, chair of the One Health Committee, echoed the sentiment that protecting ecosystems and fostering human health are inseparable goals. By linking wildlife stewardship to reduced chronic disease risk, the partnership aspires to create a virtuous cycle: healthier communities demand healthier environments, which in turn reinforce public-health gains.
In sum, the AFWA resolution, bolstered by ACLM and NHA, represents a concrete step toward embedding nature within the fabric of lifestyle medicine. As research advances and clinicians receive targeted training, the expectation is that outdoor exposure will become as routine as prescribing medication, ultimately nurturing both people and the planet.
