254
Biological Diversity 1992). Consequently, biodiversity can be categorised in many
ways. Genetic diversity, although often not apparent visually, is arguably the fundamental level of biodiversity that underpins all the others. Where genetic variation is
low, wildlife and agricultural populations tend to be less resilient to environmental
changes including disease, pollution and the impacts of climate change. Within a
single species, underlying genetic variation can be crucial in providing phenotypic
(i.e. observable) differences. For example, the single species Canis lupus familiaris
(domestic dog) provides a range of valuable attributes to benefit humans, including support for hearing, seeing, disease detection and companionship. Within species, there are less visible genetic differences; for example, individual street trees
have differing levels of tolerance to pollution. Genetic diversity can also be important in providing sustainable crops and in moderating disease pathogens. For most
people, morpho-species (organisms that look different from others) provide the
basis for perceived species richness. The number, type and mixture of species (community structures) provide useful measures of richness at a fairly basic level.
At a broader level of diversity, organisms live in habitats that may form distinct
entities, usually described in terms of their vegetation or physical characteristics
(e.g. woodlands, grasslands, ponds, rivers). Habitats may be complex, featuring
gradual horizontal transitions between different types (tall herbaceous vegetation
merging into scrub and then becoming denser and taller woodland; open areas of
water, becoming vegetated at the edges, merging into marshy areas and then wet
grassland). Complexity is also increased by the vertical layers found within them
(woodlands may feature ground vegetation, herbaceous layers, scrub, lower canopies of saplings, full canopies of mature trees and emergent trees that poke beyond
the canopy).
11.1.1 Chapter Overview
Having introduced some key concepts, we summarise the linkages between public
health and biodiversity then discuss two spheres of public health influence. First, we
discuss the role (and duty) of those working in public health to lobby for measures
to tackle climate change and other threats to biodiversity. The second sphere of
influence exploits the local links between access to biodiverse environments and
public health, and the chapter examines how people (especially urban dwellers) can
be encouraged to engage with such environments. This includes a critical look at the
evidence for interventions that bring humans into health-promoting biodiverse environments, and we summarise the literature in a model. We explicate how a range of
nature-based activities (including ‘green care’) within the nature, health and wellbeing sector can be used as environmentally biodiverse interventions to promote
well-being, and we include two case studies on how organisations can enable communities to access and sustain biodiverse environments for the benefit of human and
planetary health. Finally, we evaluate how access to biodiverse greenspace can fulfil
the public health objective of reducing inequalities in health that are linked to socioeconomic status.
P. A. Cook et al.
Biological Diversity 1992). Consequently, biodiversity can be categorised in many
ways. Genetic diversity, although often not apparent visually, is arguably the fundamental level of biodiversity that underpins all the others. Where genetic variation is
low, wildlife and agricultural populations tend to be less resilient to environmental
changes including disease, pollution and the impacts of climate change. Within a
single species, underlying genetic variation can be crucial in providing phenotypic
(i.e. observable) differences. For example, the single species Canis lupus familiaris
(domestic dog) provides a range of valuable attributes to benefit humans, including support for hearing, seeing, disease detection and companionship. Within species, there are less visible genetic differences; for example, individual street trees
have differing levels of tolerance to pollution. Genetic diversity can also be important in providing sustainable crops and in moderating disease pathogens. For most
people, morpho-species (organisms that look different from others) provide the
basis for perceived species richness. The number, type and mixture of species (community structures) provide useful measures of richness at a fairly basic level.
At a broader level of diversity, organisms live in habitats that may form distinct
entities, usually described in terms of their vegetation or physical characteristics
(e.g. woodlands, grasslands, ponds, rivers). Habitats may be complex, featuring
gradual horizontal transitions between different types (tall herbaceous vegetation
merging into scrub and then becoming denser and taller woodland; open areas of
water, becoming vegetated at the edges, merging into marshy areas and then wet
grassland). Complexity is also increased by the vertical layers found within them
(woodlands may feature ground vegetation, herbaceous layers, scrub, lower canopies of saplings, full canopies of mature trees and emergent trees that poke beyond
the canopy).
11.1.1 Chapter Overview
Having introduced some key concepts, we summarise the linkages between public
health and biodiversity then discuss two spheres of public health influence. First, we
discuss the role (and duty) of those working in public health to lobby for measures
to tackle climate change and other threats to biodiversity. The second sphere of
influence exploits the local links between access to biodiverse environments and
public health, and the chapter examines how people (especially urban dwellers) can
be encouraged to engage with such environments. This includes a critical look at the
evidence for interventions that bring humans into health-promoting biodiverse environments, and we summarise the literature in a model. We explicate how a range of
nature-based activities (including ‘green care’) within the nature, health and wellbeing sector can be used as environmentally biodiverse interventions to promote
well-being, and we include two case studies on how organisations can enable communities to access and sustain biodiverse environments for the benefit of human and
planetary health. Finally, we evaluate how access to biodiverse greenspace can fulfil
the public health objective of reducing inequalities in health that are linked to socioeconomic status.
P. A. Cook et al.