How biodiverse does a forest sound? A study reveals that we can listen to natural wealth

2025-08-06 -

The experiment with photographs and forest sounds showed that people are able to identify how much biodiversity there are just observing or listening to walking through a forest is a multisensory experience. The intense green of foliage, the light filtering between the branches, the bird choir at dawn. But how much do we really capture the biodiversity that surrounds us?

An innovative study published in the magazine People and Nature reveals that people can recognize biodiversity levels, both for sight and ear. And the most curious thing: the participants were even more precise evaluating sounds than images. Advine how many species ... with the closed eyes it is necessary to be a biologist to notice when a forest is full of life. 96 people who were divided into two groups participated in this experiment. One photographs of different forests; Others listened to recordings from those same places. Then, they had to classify how biodiverse each environment seemed to them. The result was clear, showing that their perceptions coincided with the real biodiversity that had previously been measured by the research group. The team - led by the German center for the integrative research of biodiversity (IDIV) - found that the human eye is guided by colors, density of vegetation, light and structure of the landscape. songs, melody, volume and even the seasonality of the environment (for example, the spring birds of birds). According to Kevin Rozario, co -author of the study, people recognize how of melodic are the songs of birds, as well as the physical characteristics of the sound, such as the volume or perception of stations. finding has implications for mental health and well -being. This study reinforces previous findings. In 2024, the same team showed that perceived biodiversity - not real - improves mental health in the short term. As cities grow and natural spaces evolve, the design of urban environments rich in visual and acoustic biodiversity could improve human connections with nature, favoring both conservation and well -being.Aletta Bonn, a researcher at the IDIV and co -author of the study. They as highlight in a statement of the IDIV, this evidence opens the door to urban interventions that consider what we see and what we hear: more green streets, parks that sing, cities where biodiversity is heard. Between birds and people: an antique conversation next time you walk through a park or a reserve, stop a moment. Close your eyes. What do you hear? If the song of a bird seems complex, melodic and diverse, you are probably in front of a place full of life. Although the study is a fascinating window to our perception, the research group recognizes the need for future research with a broader demographic representation to refine and strengthen these initial findings. Many cultures already intuited: biodiversity is observed, feels, heard ... and affects us. Hearing nature is, in a way, listening to how we are connected to it.