Linking Biodiversity and Human Health
to Achieve Sustainability
Deborah A. Gatt and Mark C. Mifsud
1 Introduction
In Malta, a migration towards academia and urban posts, at the expense of lowerprofit rural occupations, has lent weight to the loss of appreciation of the local
environment and knowledge regarding biodiversity and its benefits in terms of health
and well-bring. The trend towards urban environments and technological lifestyles
(for example, computers, television, tablets, mobile phones) has further promoted
the disconnection from nature among the “modern and civilised” man.
Education of the local population is required to increase awareness of biodiversity
as not simply an aesthetic benefit but an essential part of life with significant psychological and physiological benefits, including the proper and robust functioning of the
various systems within the human body.
Higher Education Institutions are highly respected as sources of information,
and educators in such institutions are well-placed to impart knowledge and skills
regarding sustainable development to students, and ultimately the community (Chinnasamy and Daniels 2019). Unfortunately, topics and skills relating to sustainable
development may be regarded as non-essential components of courses, and are not
necessarily incorporated (Waas et al. 2010).
In addition, Higher Education Institutions are strategically sited to develop
research centres that encourage the active participation of members of the local
communities (Granados-Sánchez et al. 2011).
D. A. Gatt (B) · M. C. Mifsud
Centre for Environmental Education and Research, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
e-mail: drobeah@gmail.com
M. C. Mifsud
e-mail: mark.c.mifsud@um.edu.mt
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting
the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63399-8_3
35
to Achieve Sustainability
Deborah A. Gatt and Mark C. Mifsud
1 Introduction
In Malta, a migration towards academia and urban posts, at the expense of lowerprofit rural occupations, has lent weight to the loss of appreciation of the local
environment and knowledge regarding biodiversity and its benefits in terms of health
and well-bring. The trend towards urban environments and technological lifestyles
(for example, computers, television, tablets, mobile phones) has further promoted
the disconnection from nature among the “modern and civilised” man.
Education of the local population is required to increase awareness of biodiversity
as not simply an aesthetic benefit but an essential part of life with significant psychological and physiological benefits, including the proper and robust functioning of the
various systems within the human body.
Higher Education Institutions are highly respected as sources of information,
and educators in such institutions are well-placed to impart knowledge and skills
regarding sustainable development to students, and ultimately the community (Chinnasamy and Daniels 2019). Unfortunately, topics and skills relating to sustainable
development may be regarded as non-essential components of courses, and are not
necessarily incorporated (Waas et al. 2010).
In addition, Higher Education Institutions are strategically sited to develop
research centres that encourage the active participation of members of the local
communities (Granados-Sánchez et al. 2011).
D. A. Gatt (B) · M. C. Mifsud
Centre for Environmental Education and Research, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
e-mail: drobeah@gmail.com
M. C. Mifsud
e-mail: mark.c.mifsud@um.edu.mt
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting
the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63399-8_3
35