Protected natural areas : In sickness and in health
Romanillos, Teresa 1960- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Maneja, Roser (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Varga, Diego (Universitat de Girona. Departament de Geografia)
Badiella Busquets, Llorenç (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Servei d'Estadística Aplicada)
Boada, Martí 1949- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human health, but there are few studies on the role of Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), either from the preventive point of view or on their potential benefits, on individuals with health problems. A study was made of the relationship between the visitation of Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve and health, from the perspective of a population group with different diseases. A total of 250 patients resident in the areas near the park were surveyed, recording their beliefs about the benefits of nature, as well as the reasons for visiting and the activities associated with health that they carried out in the park. The pure air is the most valued benefit (27. 2%), particularly for those with allergies. The majority (57%) visit the park for health reasons. High levels (82%) of exercise are recorded, especially by patients with heart diseases (85%), and 65% exercised in the park. More physical activity is mentioned among those that visit the park most often, particularly among those that carried it out for health reasons. Plants were collected for medicinal use by 39. 6%. The study confirmed the significant role of the Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve as a health resource for individuals with diseases that live near it. It also corroborates the beneficial effects that the PNA provide in human health.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MTM2015-69493-R
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Protected natural areas ; Health ; Disease ; Health-related activities
Published in:	International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol. 15, Núm. 10 (June 2018) , art. 2182, ISSN 1660-4601

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15102182
PMID: 30301212

19 p, 1.7 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles