Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

Marselle, Melissa R.; Hartig, Terry; Cox, Daniel T.; Bell, S.; Knapp, Sonja; Lindley, Sarah; Triguero-Mas, Margarita; Böhning‐Gaese, Katrin; Braubach, Matthias; Cook, Penny A.; Vries, S. de; Heintz‐Buschart, Anna; Hofmann, M.; Irvine, Katherine N.; Kabisch, Nadja; Kolek, Franziska; Kraemer, Roland; Markevych, Iana; Martens, Dörte; Müller, Ruth; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark; Potts, Jacqueline M.; Stadler, Jutta; Walton, Samantha; Warber, Sara; Bonn, Aletta

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420

Cited by 295 publications

(267 citation statements)

References 253 publications

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“…Consequently, a key research challenge is to investigate the causal pathways linking specific elements of biodiversity to human health [ 17 , 105 , 113 •] and test theoretical frameworks [ 18 ••, 116 •]. How exactly does biodiversity influence human physical, mental and social health?…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biodiversity underpins a range of specific ecosystem functions known to contribute to human health [ 14 •, 40 ], including mitigating the severity of urban environmental stressors [ 11 , 18 ••, 21 , 41 ]. Environmental noise is one such example.…”

Section: Recent Research Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, spatial scale may be a very important factor, as different causal mechanisms may account for the influence of the different tiers of biodiversity on mental health and well-being. For example, the mechanism driving the influence of species richness at the regional district scale may be related to overall landscape qualities that may promote mental well-being, while species richness at the local scale might be more related to stress reduction or attention restoration that promotes mental health and well-being [ 18 , 68 , 83 , 116 ]. Indeed, Marselle et al [ 94 , 95 ] did not find a direct relationship between perceived bird species richness and mood, but found an indirect relationship mediated by perceived restorativeness [ 95 ].…”

Section: Recent Research Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the extensive research on ecosystem service benefits to human health and well-being often lacks specifics on the biodiversity involved [ 1 , 16 ]. Accordingly, we see a need to further develop knowledge of the ways in which specific elements of biodiversity itself matters for human health [ 17 , 18 ••]. A first, simplistic approach to measuring nature, for example as the amount of greenspace, has enabled a surge of new research and can serve as an important indicator for urban health planning goals [ 15 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment

Marselle

Lindley

Cook

et al. 2021

Curr Envir Health Rpt

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Purpose of review Biodiversity underpins urban ecosystem functions that are essential for human health and well-being. Understanding how biodiversity relates to human health is a developing frontier for science, policy and practice. This article describes the beneficial, as well as harmful, aspects of biodiversity to human health in urban environments. Recent findings Recent research shows that contact with biodiversity of natural environments within towns and cities can be both positive and negative to human physical, mental and social health and well-being. For example, while viruses or pollen can be seriously harmful to human health, biodiverse ecosystems can promote positive health and well-being. On balance, these influences are positive. As biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, research suggests that its loss could threaten the quality of life of all humans. Summary A key research gap is to understand—and evidence—the specific causal pathways through which biodiversity affects human health. A mechanistic understanding of pathways linking biodiversity to human health can facilitate the application of nature-based solutions in public health and influence policy. Research integration as well as cross-sector urban policy and planning development should harness opportunities to better identify linkages between biodiversity, climate and human health. Given its importance for human health, urban biodiversity conservation should be considered as public health investment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Recent Research Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Recent Research Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment

Marselle

Lindley

Cook

et al. 2021

Curr Envir Health Rpt

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“…As a result, the precise mechanisms linking trees, biodiversity, and the different components of health: physical, mental, and social, remain uncertain (Lee and Maheswaran, 2010;Aerts et al, 2018). However, mechanistic responses of human health to actual and perceived biodiversity have been generally categorized as those that cause or reduce harm, and restore or build capacity for physical and mental health (Marselle et al, 2021). Research has shown that the amount of greenspace, as well as the distance urban dwellers have to travel to that greenspace, can influence the benefits of trees on public health (Annerstedt van den Bosch et al, 2016), but few studies have attempted to understand the type and amount of exposure to trees that confers health benefits (Shanahan et al, 2015;Jiang et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2017).…”

Section: Urban Forests and Human Health At The Scale Of Urban Tree Plantingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Benefits and Limits of Urban Tree Planting for Environmental and Human Health

et al. 2021

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Many of the world’s major cities have implemented tree planting programs based on assumed environmental and social benefits of urban forests. Recent studies have increasingly tested these assumptions and provide empirical evidence for the contributions of tree planting programs, as well as their feasibility and limits, for solving or mitigating urban environmental and social issues. We propose that current evidence supports local cooling, stormwater absorption, and health benefits of urban trees for local residents. However, the potential for urban trees to appreciably mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution over a wide array of sites and environmental conditions is limited. Consequently, urban trees appear to be more promising for climate and pollution adaptation strategies than mitigation strategies. In large part, this is due to space constraints limiting the extent of urban tree canopies relative to the current magnitude of emissions. The most promising environmental and health impacts of urban trees are those that can be realized with well-stewarded tree planting and localized design interventions at site to municipal scales. Tree planting at these scales has documented benefits on local climate and health, which can be maximized through targeted site design followed by monitoring, adaptive management, and studies of long-term eco-evolutionary dynamics.

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An experimental test of the impact of avian diversity on attentional benefits and enjoyment of people experiencing urban green‐space

Douglas

Evans

2021

People and Nature

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1. Biodiversity may play a key role in generating the well-being benefits of visiting green-spaces.2. The ability of people to accurately perceive variation in biodiversity is, however, unclear and evidence supporting links between biodiversity exposure and wellbeing outcomes remains equivocal. In part, this is due to the paucity of controlled experimental studies that deal adequately with confounding factors that covary

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Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

Cited by 295 publications

References 253 publications

Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment

Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment

The Benefits and Limits of Urban Tree Planting for Environmental and Human Health

An experimental test of the impact of avian diversity on attentional benefits and enjoyment of people experiencing urban green‐space

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