New research shows that across the US and in other developed nations, people are spending far less time outdoors than ever before. The study was paid for by The Nature Conservancy.

Researchers say this study—a comprehensive look at nature recreation--is a “grim confirmation” of a long-held theory that people, especially children, are spending less time in the great outdoors.

“As a scientist and a conservationist, I find these results almost terrifying,” said Oliver Pergams, assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago and lead author of the study.  “We are seeing a fundamental shift away from people’s interest in nature, not just in the US but in other countries, too.  The consequences of this could be deep and far-ranging for health, for human well-being, and for the future of the planet.”

The research builds on earlier studies that showed visits to American national parks were declining, and it illustrates the problem isn’t limited to parks nor just found in the US. Using data on camping, backpacking, fishing, hiking, hunting, visits to national and state parks and forests, Pergams and fellow researcher Patricia Zaradic found comparable, reliable statistics from Japan and, to a lesser extent, Spain.  Between 1981 and 1991 there was a decline in per capita nature recreation, dropping at rates ranging from one to 1.3 percent per year, depending on the activity studied. The typical drop in nature use since then has been between 18 and 25 percent.

In previous studies, Pergams and Zaradic found the decline in natural experiences correlated with a rise in playing video games, surfing the Internet, and watching movies.