Research challenges for cultural ecosystem services and public health in (peri-)urban environments.

Xianwen Chen, Sjerp de Vries, Timo Assmuth, Jan Dick, Tia Hermans, Ole Hertel, Anne Jensen, Laurence Jones, Sigrun Kabisch, Timo Lanki, Irina Lehmann, Lindsay Maskell, Lisa Norton, Stefan Reis

Journal: The Science of the total environment 2018;651(Pt 2):2118-2129

PMID: 30321733

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Abstract

Urbanization is a global trend, and consequently the quality of urban environments is increasingly important for human health and wellbeing. Urban life-style is typically associated with low physical activity and sometimes with high mental stress, both contributing to an increasing burden of diseases. Nature-based solutions that make effective use of ecosystem services, particularly of cultural ecosystem services (CES), can provide vital building blocks to address these challenges. This paper argues that, the salutogenic, i.e. health-promoting effects of CES have so far not been adequately recognised and deserve more explicit attention in order to enhance decision making around health and wellbeing in urban areas. However, a number of research challenges will need to be addressed to reveal the mechanisms, which underpin delivery of urban CES. These include: causal chains of supply and demand, equity, and equality of public health benefits promoted. Methodological challenges in quantifying these are discussed. The paper is highly relevant for policy makers within and beyond Europe, and also serves as a review for current researchers and as a roadmap to future short- and long-term research opportunities.

Address: Department of Landscape Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, C/o NINA, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: [email protected].; Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].; Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), P.O. Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: [email protected].; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].; Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Environmental Science - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Atmospheric Processes) (ATPRO), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, building 7413, D1.21, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Environmental Science - Enviromental Social Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, building 7420, K1.13, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: [email protected].; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: [email protected].; Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK; University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Truro TR1 3HD, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.030

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MeSH Terms: Cities, Ecosystem, Europe, Humans, Public Health, Research, Urban Population