Linking Biodiversity and Human Health to Achieve Sustainability
47
linked the lack of enforcement with a high rate of construction, including on ODZ
land (Out of Development Zone). Although the total government expenditure in
addressing environmental challenges has increased in recent years (Environment
and Resources Authority 2018), the enforcement and execution of the policies,
management plans and legislation is not apparent to the Maltese 30–45 population.
There are certain laws which are there on paper, which haven’t been respected for quite
some time. And yet, we close an eye on them, no enforcement.
(Interviewee 15)
Biodiversity positively affects human physical health and well-being, with longterm exposure reducing the risk of obesity through increased physical activity,
lowering mortality associated with cancer (Li 2010) and respiratory and cardiac
diseases (Tsao et al. 2014), and reducing the effects of stress (Barton and Pretty
2010). Exposure to the natural environment, both during gestation and in the first
few years of life, may have positive effects on the mental health of children (Engemann et al. 2018) and reduces atopic sensitisation and the prevalence of chronic
inflammatory diseases such as asthma (Hanski et al. 2012).
Even among university-educated interviewees, the data collected indicates that
these benefits are not widely known. Apart from the impact on air quality and mental
well-being, some interviewees were unaware that biodiversity had any impact on
human quality of life. The interviewees appear to believe the effects of biodiversity to
be indirect, rather than direct, and excursions into the countryside may be perceived
as “hassle”, possibly due to a cultural mentality where such ventures require the
inclusion of commodities, such as food and beverages.
For example, nowadays you say “let me take them for a day out to Buskett”, and you have to
stay carrying the sausages, for example, etc. It’s easier to go to Sliema and find everything
ready and you just pay for it.
(Interviewee 3)
The value placed on the natural environment may stem from the extent of time
spent outdoors as a child (Soga and Gaston 2016); several interviewees attributed
their positive environmental perspectives to their personal experiences outdoors. It
is possible that, rather than the quantity of time spent outdoors, it is the quality of
time spent outdoors that has the most significant impact on adult perspective and
behaviour towards the environment (Ives et al. 2017).
Examination of the data collected showed that the understanding of the impact of
biodiversity on human health and quality of life was limited to mental and emotional
well-being, the purification of air and the production of oxygen. None of the interviewees mentioned other benefits and services that ecosystems provide, such as
regulation of climate, carbon dioxide sinks, and direct health benefits. However, all
interviewees were aware that pollution and some human activities negatively affect
biodiversity, which in turn impacts humans.
The main outcomes of the study are:
1. Maltese 30–45 understand that biodiversity improves the quality of air, positively
affects well-being and mental health, and that more biodiversity would improve
47
linked the lack of enforcement with a high rate of construction, including on ODZ
land (Out of Development Zone). Although the total government expenditure in
addressing environmental challenges has increased in recent years (Environment
and Resources Authority 2018), the enforcement and execution of the policies,
management plans and legislation is not apparent to the Maltese 30–45 population.
There are certain laws which are there on paper, which haven’t been respected for quite
some time. And yet, we close an eye on them, no enforcement.
(Interviewee 15)
Biodiversity positively affects human physical health and well-being, with longterm exposure reducing the risk of obesity through increased physical activity,
lowering mortality associated with cancer (Li 2010) and respiratory and cardiac
diseases (Tsao et al. 2014), and reducing the effects of stress (Barton and Pretty
2010). Exposure to the natural environment, both during gestation and in the first
few years of life, may have positive effects on the mental health of children (Engemann et al. 2018) and reduces atopic sensitisation and the prevalence of chronic
inflammatory diseases such as asthma (Hanski et al. 2012).
Even among university-educated interviewees, the data collected indicates that
these benefits are not widely known. Apart from the impact on air quality and mental
well-being, some interviewees were unaware that biodiversity had any impact on
human quality of life. The interviewees appear to believe the effects of biodiversity to
be indirect, rather than direct, and excursions into the countryside may be perceived
as “hassle”, possibly due to a cultural mentality where such ventures require the
inclusion of commodities, such as food and beverages.
For example, nowadays you say “let me take them for a day out to Buskett”, and you have to
stay carrying the sausages, for example, etc. It’s easier to go to Sliema and find everything
ready and you just pay for it.
(Interviewee 3)
The value placed on the natural environment may stem from the extent of time
spent outdoors as a child (Soga and Gaston 2016); several interviewees attributed
their positive environmental perspectives to their personal experiences outdoors. It
is possible that, rather than the quantity of time spent outdoors, it is the quality of
time spent outdoors that has the most significant impact on adult perspective and
behaviour towards the environment (Ives et al. 2017).
Examination of the data collected showed that the understanding of the impact of
biodiversity on human health and quality of life was limited to mental and emotional
well-being, the purification of air and the production of oxygen. None of the interviewees mentioned other benefits and services that ecosystems provide, such as
regulation of climate, carbon dioxide sinks, and direct health benefits. However, all
interviewees were aware that pollution and some human activities negatively affect
biodiversity, which in turn impacts humans.
The main outcomes of the study are:
1. Maltese 30–45 understand that biodiversity improves the quality of air, positively
affects well-being and mental health, and that more biodiversity would improve