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Connecting biodiversity and human wellbeing

Fisher, Jessica C. and Nawrath, M and Dallimer, Martin and Irvine, Katherine N. and Davies, Zoe G. (2022) Connecting biodiversity and human wellbeing. In: Aronson, M.F.J. and Nilon, C.H., eds. Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity. Taylor & Francis, Oxford, United Kingdom. E-ISBN 978-1-003-01612-0. (doi:10.4324/9781003016120-13) (KAR id:97936)

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https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003016120-13

Abstract

Across the world, urban human populations are expanding rapidly. The negative stressors associated with city-living can lead to both physical and mental ill-health, the costs of which are accumulating steadily. Urban green and blue space can benefit human health and wellbeing through a variety of mechanisms (e.g. reducing physiological stress, restoring attentional capacity). These same spaces also provide vital habitat for biodiversity. However, there is little consensus regarding how specific biodiversity attributes (e.g. different species, colours, sounds) affect people’s wellbeing, due to the rich and complex ways people perceive their surroundings. Comparisons between studies are further complicated by use of a diverse range of wellbeing measures, biodiversity metrics, sampling methodologies and biases in geographical locations. Nonetheless, policy-makers and practitioners must trade-off between multiple environmental and social benefits and dis-benefits, finding interventions that deliver positive reinforcing outcomes for both biodiversity conservation and public health. Human experiences of urban nature need to therefore be explored empirically, systematically and with more nuance in relation to biodiversity specifically.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.4324/9781003016120-13
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Jessica Fisher
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2022 17:54 UTC
Last Modified: 30 Apr 2024 22:42 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/97936 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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