Biodiversity is decreasing sharply. Human well-being depends on the interacting web of living species: if health providers are truly concerned about human health they also need to concern themselves with the health of the planet.Awareness of the relationship between global health and human health is improving and the dental team can contribute to environmental health and, in doing so, to the overall health of the people they care for.Many dental practices have backyards that can perhaps be used more effectively to encourage biodiversity and provide food and shelter for many species. The frequency of lawn cutting could be reduced to improve biodiversity. Practices should consider creating areas of water or left-aside areas in their gardens or to store fallen leaves, dry wood and branches for composting, such areas will provide a natural habitat for a range of species. The dental practice could also include flora-and fauna-friendly structures in their building structure or surrounds.Dental practices might also give thought to the type of ground covering they have. Traditional coverings do not provide potential for plants or wildlife to live, but a natural surface with some vegetation provides greater potential for small plants and insects to exist.
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