Parents spend a lot of time trying to convince their children that green time is better than screen time.
But perhaps adults are not setting the best example, with Planet Ark finding that Australians are spending just four per cent of their week immersed in nature yet almost three hours a day glued to their mobile devices.
This is despite the majority of Australians (89 per cent) agreeing that time spent outdoors significantly helps reduce stress and increase levels of calmness.
But what if we could combine the two, not only for the preservation of our environment but also for mental and spiritual health and wellbeing?
"We have conducted this research to explore the disconnect between how nature makes people feel and our current behavior towards it and it is interesting to see that despite our awareness of the positive effects of nature, we are still spending so little of our free time properly immersed in it," Planet Ark CEO Paul Klymenko said.
Planet Ark's research found that one in three Australians believe that spending time in nature makes them feel more relaxed with a positive impact on their mental and spiritual health while 90 per cent of thought that spending time in nature has many benefits for the wellbeing and development of kids.
About a quarter of us use nature-related apps. Here are Planet Ark's top five 'Green Time' free apps:
- All Trails: Explore the most popular hiking trails in Australia with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers.
- Aust. Birds: A field guide to Australian birds based on the Gaia Guide website that can be used without an Internet connection. The app supports rapid identification based upon location, type, colour and size.
- iNaturalist: Contribute information to global databases and become a citizen scientist, allowing you to contribute information to global biodiversity databases.
- PictureThis - Plant Identifier: This app lets gardeners and nature lovers identify 4000 plants and counting. Take or submit a photo to identify thousands of plants, flowers, or trees, and then learn more about them with a detailed description.
- QuestaGame: An app recommended for those that want to gamify their nature spotting. The game takes players outdoors to discover, map and help protect life on our planet. Sightings contribute to real research and conservation.
"While we recognise that a majority of Australians prefer to switch off completely while in nature (64 per cent), a third of us do believe think that technology can help enhance our time outdoors," Mr Klymenko said.
Need another excuse to appreciate our planet? Schools Tree Day on Friday, July 26 and National Tree Day on Sunday, July 28 are Australia's largest annual tree-planting and nature care events.
Visit treeday.planetark.org.
