Lauren A. Ferguson

Perceived biodiversity matters: Linking biodiversity and education to mental well-being

The loss of biodiversity, or species richness, is a growing global environmental concern. At the same time, biodiversity forms the foundation for critical ecosystem services and overall ecosystem health. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates the benefits of spending time in...

Adapting for solitude: Stress-coping, substitution behaviors, and intentions to return in wilderness recreation

Increasing visitation to Wilderness Areas is intensifying pressure on ecological conditions and visitor experience quality, highlighting gaps in current monitoring systems that rely heavily on biophysical indicators while overlooking visitor-based psychological and experiential d...