464
well-being. In order to further this transdisciplinary field of biodiversity and health
as an effective instrument for climate change adaptation, we identify key research
challenges to integration:
1. Investigating biodiversity-health linkages in a changing climate: Future
research should consider the potential positive and negative effects of biodiversity on human health and well-being in a changing climate. How biodiversity
can help to adapt to climate pressures, e.g. through greenspace planning in
urban areas or restoration of climate resilient wetlands, but also how vector- borne
diseases and allergenic plants may shift in distribution with climate change, in
order to identify appropriate management measures to foster positive and
reduce negative health impacts.
2. Broadening research to assess the effects of biodiversity on physical, mental,
spiritual and social health and well-being: Whilst there is considerable evidence of the physical health effects of biodiversity through shelter, food and
medicines, there is, to date, limited evidence of the influence that biodiversity has on mental, spiritual and social well-being. This is especially relevant given that these latter health effects drove forward early conservation
policy and link to intrinsic values of nature. Research should identify the
influence of biodiversity on these under-investigated health and well-being
outcomes.
3. Further developing theory for biodiversity-health effects: Evaluations of the
impact of biodiversity on human health, or the effectiveness of nature-based
interventions, require a solid theoretical basis to guide selection of health and
well-being outcomes and identify causal mediators. Tending to such conceptual
considerations is a necessary component for further research and integration
across disciplines and sectors.
4. Identifying mechanisms: Different models have been developed to understand
the various mediating pathways through which green spaces influence human
health and well-being. Future research should investigate the specific mechanistic pathways through which biodiversity benefits health and well-being, for
example ecosystem services, psychological restoration and perceived biodiversity. These mechanisms should be assessed through synthesis and metaanalysis of the existing literature in addition to well-designed empirical
research.
5. Identifying moderators: Health effects may not be equally distributed in society
and certain groups of people may experience greater health benefits from exposure to, or use of, green space and biodiverse environments. The impact of
biodiversity on the health and well-being of specific socio-demographic (e.g.
age and gender) and socio-economic (e.g. most disadvantaged) groups needs
further scientific attention.
6. Considering ‘dose-response’ relationships: At present, there is a lack of knowledge on the quality and intensity of biodiversity that is required for an effect
M. R. Marselle et al.
well-being. In order to further this transdisciplinary field of biodiversity and health
as an effective instrument for climate change adaptation, we identify key research
challenges to integration:
1. Investigating biodiversity-health linkages in a changing climate: Future
research should consider the potential positive and negative effects of biodiversity on human health and well-being in a changing climate. How biodiversity
can help to adapt to climate pressures, e.g. through greenspace planning in
urban areas or restoration of climate resilient wetlands, but also how vector- borne
diseases and allergenic plants may shift in distribution with climate change, in
order to identify appropriate management measures to foster positive and
reduce negative health impacts.
2. Broadening research to assess the effects of biodiversity on physical, mental,
spiritual and social health and well-being: Whilst there is considerable evidence of the physical health effects of biodiversity through shelter, food and
medicines, there is, to date, limited evidence of the influence that biodiversity has on mental, spiritual and social well-being. This is especially relevant given that these latter health effects drove forward early conservation
policy and link to intrinsic values of nature. Research should identify the
influence of biodiversity on these under-investigated health and well-being
outcomes.
3. Further developing theory for biodiversity-health effects: Evaluations of the
impact of biodiversity on human health, or the effectiveness of nature-based
interventions, require a solid theoretical basis to guide selection of health and
well-being outcomes and identify causal mediators. Tending to such conceptual
considerations is a necessary component for further research and integration
across disciplines and sectors.
4. Identifying mechanisms: Different models have been developed to understand
the various mediating pathways through which green spaces influence human
health and well-being. Future research should investigate the specific mechanistic pathways through which biodiversity benefits health and well-being, for
example ecosystem services, psychological restoration and perceived biodiversity. These mechanisms should be assessed through synthesis and metaanalysis of the existing literature in addition to well-designed empirical
research.
5. Identifying moderators: Health effects may not be equally distributed in society
and certain groups of people may experience greater health benefits from exposure to, or use of, green space and biodiverse environments. The impact of
biodiversity on the health and well-being of specific socio-demographic (e.g.
age and gender) and socio-economic (e.g. most disadvantaged) groups needs
further scientific attention.
6. Considering ‘dose-response’ relationships: At present, there is a lack of knowledge on the quality and intensity of biodiversity that is required for an effect
M. R. Marselle et al.