Linking Biodiversity and Human Health to Achieve Sustainability
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1. Introductory: neutral, eliciting general information.
2. Transition: linking introductory and key questions.
3. Key: related to the research questions.
4. Closing: opportunity to close.
The Interview Protocol Matrix (IPM) for this study, as recommended by CastilloMontoya (2016) for the evaluation of the interview questions, is depicted in Table 1.
The classification of the questions is according to the four types described above.
3.2 Data Analysis
Fifteen interviews were conducted and the audio was recorded (with the interviewee’s consent), transcribed and analysed using the modified version of the method
proposed by Vaughn et al. (1996), where the main ideas were identified, units created
and categorised, and themes formed following examination of the main ideas and
categories.
The following table describes some demographics of the interview participants
(Table 2).
Theme 1: Biodiversity affects Physical and Mental Health
When referring to biodiversity, interviewees mentioned trees almost exclusively, and
the stated effects of biodiversity were limited to air quality and effects on mental
health and stress reduction.
Plants and trees clean the air, so without them, there would be even more pollution, and then
this would be linked to more of certain types of cancers.
(Interviewee 11)
Even coming home to a small front garden, for example, or being able to breathe clean air
… all of these things would improve my overall well-being and mental health.
(Interviewee 5)
One interviewee, although familiar with the role of plants in relation to air quality,
was unaware of the fact that species diversity was preferable to a single species.
As regards animals and plants affecting my health, I imagine that mostly I need enough trees
around to change carbon dioxide into oxygen, but I don’t know if they need to be diverse or
if they can be one kind of tree.
(Interviewee 7)
Differing levels of education did not affect the benefits of biodiversity mentioned,
although one (post-graduate) was aware of the detrimental effects to human health
when ecosystem imbalances were present.
… certain rodents, or the pigeons for example, they’re not doing good for people who suffer
from asthma or allergies … Biodiversity should affect people in a positive way, but we have
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1. Introductory: neutral, eliciting general information.
2. Transition: linking introductory and key questions.
3. Key: related to the research questions.
4. Closing: opportunity to close.
The Interview Protocol Matrix (IPM) for this study, as recommended by CastilloMontoya (2016) for the evaluation of the interview questions, is depicted in Table 1.
The classification of the questions is according to the four types described above.
3.2 Data Analysis
Fifteen interviews were conducted and the audio was recorded (with the interviewee’s consent), transcribed and analysed using the modified version of the method
proposed by Vaughn et al. (1996), where the main ideas were identified, units created
and categorised, and themes formed following examination of the main ideas and
categories.
The following table describes some demographics of the interview participants
(Table 2).
Theme 1: Biodiversity affects Physical and Mental Health
When referring to biodiversity, interviewees mentioned trees almost exclusively, and
the stated effects of biodiversity were limited to air quality and effects on mental
health and stress reduction.
Plants and trees clean the air, so without them, there would be even more pollution, and then
this would be linked to more of certain types of cancers.
(Interviewee 11)
Even coming home to a small front garden, for example, or being able to breathe clean air
… all of these things would improve my overall well-being and mental health.
(Interviewee 5)
One interviewee, although familiar with the role of plants in relation to air quality,
was unaware of the fact that species diversity was preferable to a single species.
As regards animals and plants affecting my health, I imagine that mostly I need enough trees
around to change carbon dioxide into oxygen, but I don’t know if they need to be diverse or
if they can be one kind of tree.
(Interviewee 7)
Differing levels of education did not affect the benefits of biodiversity mentioned,
although one (post-graduate) was aware of the detrimental effects to human health
when ecosystem imbalances were present.
… certain rodents, or the pigeons for example, they’re not doing good for people who suffer
from asthma or allergies … Biodiversity should affect people in a positive way, but we have