4
through loss of these vital services, diminished options for medicines and increased
transmission of infectious diseases (WHO & CBD 2015; Sandifer et al. 2015;
Hough 2014). Unsurprisingly then, biodiversity has been shown to be positively
associated with good physical health (Hough 2014; Lovell et al. 2014). Less understood, however, are the impacts of biodiversity on other aspects of human health and
well-being. Whilst a fast-growing field of research is investigating the influence of
biodiversity on mental health and well-being (Aerts et al. 2018; Lovell et al. 2014;
Dallimer et al. 2012; Fuller et al. 2007; Wheeler et al. 2015; Cox et al. 2017;
Marselle et al. 2015, 2016; Carrus et al. 2015; Cracknell et al. 2016, 2017; Johansson
et al. 2014), work is still progressing in this area, and evidence gaps remain. For
example, the mechanistic pathways through which biodiversity influences mental
health and well-being is undeveloped. Several models consider the pathways
through which nature might influence various dimensions of health and well-being
(Hartig et al. 2014; Markevych et al. 2017), yet it is unknown whether these same
mechanistic pathways would hold for biodiversity and health and well-being relationships. In this book, we aim to synthesise existing studies and further develop the
research agenda.
Increasingly, the importance of biodiversity for human health and well-being is
being recognised by international governments and organizations (WHO & CBD
2015, CBD 2017a, ten Brick et al. 2016). The linkage between biodiversity and
human health is at the heart of several high-level strategic decisions being taken at
a national and international scale. The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)
and the World Health Organization (WHO) are collaborating to promote the interlinkages between biodiversity and human health sectors as secured in the Conference
of the Parties (COP) 12 Decision XII/21 and joint publications (WHO & CBD 2015,
CBD 2017a, b, c). The Health 2020 policy framework of the WHO European Region
identifies the importance of environmental conditions as health determinants, and
has recently published a review of the evidence of urban green space for health
(WHO 2017c). The United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development has
dedicated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both for health and biodiversity,
and current activities under the CBD aim to closely align health and biodiversity
issues. The relevance of biodiversity to physical and mental health is also reflected
in levels of EU research activity, the quantity of public and private expenditure, and
the number of high-profile government initiatives on biodiversity and health
(EKLIPSE 2017). High-profile international initiatives and research on biodiversity
and health also highlight this burgeoning area (e.g. United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), the International Association for Ecology and Health (Eco
Health), and One Health).
Awareness of the significant potential for synergies between improvement of
human health and adaptation to climate change with conservation of biodiversity is
also increasing in applied resource management, urban planning, landscape architecture and protected areas management. In practice, there is growing interest in the
use of green space in general, and biodiversity in particular, for physical, mental
M. R. Marselle et al.
through loss of these vital services, diminished options for medicines and increased
transmission of infectious diseases (WHO & CBD 2015; Sandifer et al. 2015;
Hough 2014). Unsurprisingly then, biodiversity has been shown to be positively
associated with good physical health (Hough 2014; Lovell et al. 2014). Less understood, however, are the impacts of biodiversity on other aspects of human health and
well-being. Whilst a fast-growing field of research is investigating the influence of
biodiversity on mental health and well-being (Aerts et al. 2018; Lovell et al. 2014;
Dallimer et al. 2012; Fuller et al. 2007; Wheeler et al. 2015; Cox et al. 2017;
Marselle et al. 2015, 2016; Carrus et al. 2015; Cracknell et al. 2016, 2017; Johansson
et al. 2014), work is still progressing in this area, and evidence gaps remain. For
example, the mechanistic pathways through which biodiversity influences mental
health and well-being is undeveloped. Several models consider the pathways
through which nature might influence various dimensions of health and well-being
(Hartig et al. 2014; Markevych et al. 2017), yet it is unknown whether these same
mechanistic pathways would hold for biodiversity and health and well-being relationships. In this book, we aim to synthesise existing studies and further develop the
research agenda.
Increasingly, the importance of biodiversity for human health and well-being is
being recognised by international governments and organizations (WHO & CBD
2015, CBD 2017a, ten Brick et al. 2016). The linkage between biodiversity and
human health is at the heart of several high-level strategic decisions being taken at
a national and international scale. The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)
and the World Health Organization (WHO) are collaborating to promote the interlinkages between biodiversity and human health sectors as secured in the Conference
of the Parties (COP) 12 Decision XII/21 and joint publications (WHO & CBD 2015,
CBD 2017a, b, c). The Health 2020 policy framework of the WHO European Region
identifies the importance of environmental conditions as health determinants, and
has recently published a review of the evidence of urban green space for health
(WHO 2017c). The United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development has
dedicated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both for health and biodiversity,
and current activities under the CBD aim to closely align health and biodiversity
issues. The relevance of biodiversity to physical and mental health is also reflected
in levels of EU research activity, the quantity of public and private expenditure, and
the number of high-profile government initiatives on biodiversity and health
(EKLIPSE 2017). High-profile international initiatives and research on biodiversity
and health also highlight this burgeoning area (e.g. United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), the International Association for Ecology and Health (Eco
Health), and One Health).
Awareness of the significant potential for synergies between improvement of
human health and adaptation to climate change with conservation of biodiversity is
also increasing in applied resource management, urban planning, landscape architecture and protected areas management. In practice, there is growing interest in the
use of green space in general, and biodiversity in particular, for physical, mental
M. R. Marselle et al.