Biodiversity and sustainable real estate news
Introduced by journalist Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods (2005), the concept of "nature deficit disorder" refers to the physical, psychological and cognitive disorders linked to the increasing disconnection between humans — especially children — and natural environments.
Definition: a relational deficit, not a medical pathology
The term "nature deficit disorder" does not refer to a disease in the medical sense. It describes a situation of reduced interaction with living things, with documented effects on well-being, mental health, attention span, and psychomotor development.
In urban areas, the scarcity of green spaces, the decrease in contact with natural environments, as well as lifestyles and digital habits, exacerbate this disconnect. Among children, several studies link this deficit to concentration difficulties, an increase in anxiety and obesity, and a reduction in social skills.
A matter of environmental health… and social justice
Research on the subject converges: access to nature improves physical and mental health, stimulates the imagination, promotes free movement, and develops relationships with others. However, this access is not equally distributed across different regions.
In the most constrained neighborhoods, the presence of biodiversity, continuous green spaces, and ecological corridors often remains limited. This observation links the environmental issue to those of equal opportunity, public health, and quality of life.
Certification as a lever for action: towards prescriptible biodiversity
At IRICE, we believe that urban biodiversity is not an aesthetic choice, but an operational necessity. Reintroducing nature into urban projects requires shared, traceable, and legally binding tools. This is the purpose of the Effinature certification and the Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS): to provide measurable frameworks for these commitments, guarantee their effectiveness, and embed ecological restoration within a results-oriented approach.
Conclusion: restoring the living link
Reducing the "nature deficit disorder" requires a systemic approach. This involves project owners, local authorities, designers, and also certifiers. It is through robust standards, aligned with the uses and real needs of residents, that urban rewilding becomes a credible lever for public health.