Pathways linking biodiversity to human health : A conceptual framework
Marselle, Melissa R. (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)
Hartig, Terry (Uppsala University. Department of Psychology)
Cox, Daniel T.C. (University of Exeter)
Bell, Siân de (University of Exeter)
Knapp, Sonja (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Department of Community Ecology)
Lindley, Sarah (University of Mancheste. Department of Geography)
Triguero-Mas, Margarita (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Böhning-Gaese, Katrin (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main)
Braubach, Matthias (European Centre for Environment and Health)
Cook, Penny A. (University of Salford)
Vries, Sjerp de (Wageningen University and Research)
Heintz-Buschart, Anna (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Department of Soil Ecology)
Hofmann, Max (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)
Irvine, Katherine N. (The James Hutton Institute)
Kabisch, Nadja (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Department of Geography)
Kolek, Franziska (Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München)
Kraemer, Roland (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Department of Monitoring and Exploration Technologies)
Markevych, Iana (Jagiellonian University. Institute of Psychology)
Martens, Dörte (Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development)
Müller, Ruth (Institute of Tropical Medicine)
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)
Potts, Jacqueline M. (Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland)
Stadler, Jutta (German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation)
Walton, Samantha (Bath Spa University. Department of English Literature)
Warber, Sara L. (University of Michigan. Department of Family Medicine)
Bonn, Aletta (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Biodiversity is a cornerstone of human health and well-being. However, while evidence of the contributions of nature to human health is rapidly building, research into how biodiversity relates to human health remains limited in important respects. In particular, a better mechanistic understanding of the range of pathways through which biodiversity can influence human health is needed. These pathways relate to both psychological and social processes as well as biophysical processes. Building on evidence from across the natural, social and health sciences, we present a conceptual framework organizing the pathways linking biodiversity to human health. Four domains of pathways-both beneficial as well as harmful-link biodiversity with human health: (i) reducing harm (e. g. provision of medicines, decreasing exposure to air and noise pollution); (ii) restoring capacities (e. g. attention restoration, stress reduction); (iii) building capacities (e. g. promoting physical activity, transcendent experiences); and (iv) causing harm (e. g. dangerous wildlife, zoonotic diseases, allergens). We discuss how to test components of the biodiversity-health framework with available analytical approaches and existing datasets. In a world with accelerating declines in biodiversity, profound land-use change, and an increase in non-communicable and zoonotic diseases globally, greater understanding of these pathways can reinforce biodiversity conservation as a strategy for the promotion of health for both people and nature. We conclude by identifying research avenues and recommendations for policy and practice to foster biodiversity-focused public health actions.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación FJCI-2017-33842
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
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 de revisió ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Biodiversity ; Ecosystem services ; Human well-being ; Mediation ; Nature ; Public health
Published in:	Environment International, Vol. 150 (May 2021) , art. 106420, ISSN 1873-6750

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420
PMID: 33556912

22 p, 1.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) > The Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles