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Ecosystem Services and Human Health – Awareness and Attitudes Survey
The aim of this survey was to gain a clearer view of where and how human health
perspectives are addressed by people working in the field of ecosystem services
research, policy and practice (what we call the ‘ecosystem services community’).
We hoped to gauge the degree of awareness and interest in the topic, and to better
understand the needs of those who aim to address links between ecosystems and
human health within their fields of work. We also wanted to gain information on the
main opportunities and barriers/needs and challenges. In Box 15.1, we present some
highlights from the results. In light of nature-health collaboration initiatives, these
findings suggest that the vast majority of the ecosystem services community would
welcome collaboration with health experts, to inform politicians and through those
collaborations maximize ecosystem benefits.
When asked about factors that act as barriers to interdisciplinary research on
ecosystems and health, in particular collaboration barriers such as disciplinary differences and lack of mutual understanding were mentioned. Further, lack of awareness about ecosystem–health linkages, lack of scientific understanding of
ecosystem–health linkages and lack of resources stand out. When asked about factors that act as opportunities for interdisciplinary research on ecosystems and health
in their own area of work, a wide range of examples was mentioned, of which specifically ecosystem-relevant topics, concepts or practices as a sub-group stand out.
Topical examples are the influence of urban green infrastructure on health, climate
change mitigation and linking ecosystem services with food security; conceptual
examples are ecological public health and valuation.
2016 European ESP Conference Session: Health as an Integrating Concept
in Ecosystem Services and Nature-based Solutions
The main activity in 2016 concerned the organization of a session at the European
ESP-conference. The session was very well attended and included both a diversity
of presentations, mainly from on-going research projects, and group discussion. We
highlight some issues from the group discussion.
Box 15.1: Some Respondent Highlights of the Ecosystem Services and
Human Health – Awareness and Attitudes Survey
• 83% disagreed with the statement “human health is not relevant to my
current work on ecosystem services” (including 36% strongly disagreeing).
• Over 50% indicated that “information about ecosystem–human health
links is difficult to find”, whereas human health seems to be relevant to
most respondents.
• 96% agreed that “policy and practice on ecosystem services should account
for human health aspects”.
• 97% agreed that “the ecosystem services community should seek to
develop/strengthen links to the health community”.
15 European Nature and Health Network Initiatives
Ecosystem Services and Human Health – Awareness and Attitudes Survey
The aim of this survey was to gain a clearer view of where and how human health
perspectives are addressed by people working in the field of ecosystem services
research, policy and practice (what we call the ‘ecosystem services community’).
We hoped to gauge the degree of awareness and interest in the topic, and to better
understand the needs of those who aim to address links between ecosystems and
human health within their fields of work. We also wanted to gain information on the
main opportunities and barriers/needs and challenges. In Box 15.1, we present some
highlights from the results. In light of nature-health collaboration initiatives, these
findings suggest that the vast majority of the ecosystem services community would
welcome collaboration with health experts, to inform politicians and through those
collaborations maximize ecosystem benefits.
When asked about factors that act as barriers to interdisciplinary research on
ecosystems and health, in particular collaboration barriers such as disciplinary differences and lack of mutual understanding were mentioned. Further, lack of awareness about ecosystem–health linkages, lack of scientific understanding of
ecosystem–health linkages and lack of resources stand out. When asked about factors that act as opportunities for interdisciplinary research on ecosystems and health
in their own area of work, a wide range of examples was mentioned, of which specifically ecosystem-relevant topics, concepts or practices as a sub-group stand out.
Topical examples are the influence of urban green infrastructure on health, climate
change mitigation and linking ecosystem services with food security; conceptual
examples are ecological public health and valuation.
2016 European ESP Conference Session: Health as an Integrating Concept
in Ecosystem Services and Nature-based Solutions
The main activity in 2016 concerned the organization of a session at the European
ESP-conference. The session was very well attended and included both a diversity
of presentations, mainly from on-going research projects, and group discussion. We
highlight some issues from the group discussion.
Box 15.1: Some Respondent Highlights of the Ecosystem Services and
Human Health – Awareness and Attitudes Survey
• 83% disagreed with the statement “human health is not relevant to my
current work on ecosystem services” (including 36% strongly disagreeing).
• Over 50% indicated that “information about ecosystem–human health
links is difficult to find”, whereas human health seems to be relevant to
most respondents.
• 96% agreed that “policy and practice on ecosystem services should account
for human health aspects”.
• 97% agreed that “the ecosystem services community should seek to
develop/strengthen links to the health community”.
15 European Nature and Health Network Initiatives