Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer review

Authors

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

External Research Organisations

  • German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena
  • De Montfort University
  • Uppsala University
  • University of Manchester
  • Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
  • Goethe University Frankfurt
  • University of Salford
  • Wageningen University and Research
  • Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
  • Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
  • The James Hutton Institute
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
  • Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
  • Technical University of Munich (TUM)
  • Jagiellonian University
  • University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE)
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerpen
  • Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
  • Centros de Investigacion Biomedica en Red - CIBER
  • Australian Catholic University
  • Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland
  • Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BFN)
  • Bath Spa University
  • University of Michigan
  • Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health
  • IMIM - Municipal Institute for Medical Research Hospital del Mar
  • Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F)
  • WHO Regional Office for Europe
  • University of Exeter
  • Universität Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
View graph of relations

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number106420
JournalEnvironment international
Volume150
Early online date6 Feb 2021
Publication statusPublished - May 2021
Externally publishedYes

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.

Keywords

    Biodiversity, Ecosystem services, Human well-being, Mediation, Nature, Public health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework. / Marselle, Melissa R.; Hartig, Terry; Cox, Daniel T.C. et al.
In: Environment international, Vol. 150, 106420, 05.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer review

Marselle, MR, Hartig, T, Cox, DTC, de Bell, S, Knapp, S, Lindley, S, Triguero-Mas, M, Böhning-Gaese, K, Braubach, M, Cook, PA, de Vries, S, Heintz-Buschart, A, Hofmann, M, Irvine, KN, Kabisch, N, Kolek, F, Kraemer, R, Markevych, I, Martens, D, Müller, R, Nieuwenhuijsen, M, Potts, JM, Stadler, J, Walton, S, Warber, SL & Bonn, A 2021, 'Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework', Environment international, vol. 150, 106420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420
Marselle, M. R., Hartig, T., Cox, D. T. C., de Bell, S., Knapp, S., Lindley, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Böhning-Gaese, K., Braubach, M., Cook, P. A., de Vries, S., Heintz-Buschart, A., Hofmann, M., Irvine, K. N., Kabisch, N., Kolek, F., Kraemer, R., Markevych, I., Martens, D., ... Bonn, A. (2021). Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework. Environment international, 150, Article 106420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420
Marselle MR, Hartig T, Cox DTC, de Bell S, Knapp S, Lindley S et al. Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework. Environment international. 2021 May;150:106420. Epub 2021 Feb 6. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420
Marselle, Melissa R. ; Hartig, Terry ; Cox, Daniel T.C. et al. / Pathways linking biodiversity to human health : A conceptual framework. In: Environment international. 2021 ; Vol. 150.
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@article{dc8fa6f684a44c62994c92a66dcf986c,
title = "Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework",
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.",
keywords = "Biodiversity, Ecosystem services, Human well-being, Mediation, Nature, Public health",
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note = "Funding Information: We thank three anonymous reviewers and Michael Scherer-Lorenzen for their helpful suggestions that strengthened the manuscript. The Expert Workshop and publication costs were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation [grant number 96 067]. MRM, AB and AHB were funded by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig of the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG-FZT 118, 202548816]. MRM and AB received additional funding through the Dr. Forest project, funded by the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG 428795724], as part of the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals). TH received financial support from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning [grant number 2016-01157]. MTM is funded by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship [grant number FJCI-2017-33842] awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. KNI and JMP acknowledge funding from the Scottish Government's Rural Affairs, Food and Environment Strategic Research Portfolio. IM is supported by the TEAM-NET program of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Program [grant number POIR.04.04.00-1763/18-00]. NK acknowledges funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [grant number 01LN1705A]. RM is supported from the BMBF [grant number 01Kl1717] as part of the National Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases of Germany, and from the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals) [grant number G0G2319N]. SL and PC are supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council under the Valuing Nature Program [grant number NE/N013530/1]. Funding Information: We thank three anonymous reviewers and Michael Scherer-Lorenzen for their helpful suggestions that strengthened the manuscript. The Expert Workshop and publication costs were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation [grant number 96 067]. MRM, AB and AHB were funded by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig of the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG-FZT 118, 202548816]. MRM and AB received additional funding through the Dr. Forest project, funded by the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG 428795724], as part of the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals). TH received financial support from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning [grant number 2016-01157]. MTM is funded by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship [grant number FJCI-2017-33842] awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. KNI and JMP acknowledge funding from the Scottish Government{\textquoteright}s Rural Affairs, Food and Environment Strategic Research Portfolio. IM is supported by the TEAM-NET program of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Program [grant number POIR.04.04.00-1763/18-00]. NK acknowledges funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [grant number 01LN1705A]. RM is supported from the BMBF [grant number 01Kl1717] as part of the National Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases of Germany, and from the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals) [grant number G0G2319N]. SL and PC are supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council under the Valuing Nature Program [grant number NE/N013530/1]. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s)",
year = "2021",
month = may,
doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420",
language = "English",
volume = "150",
journal = "Environment international",
issn = "0160-4120",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pathways linking biodiversity to human health

T2 - A conceptual framework

AU - Marselle, Melissa R.

AU - Hartig, Terry

AU - Cox, Daniel T.C.

AU - de Bell, Siân

AU - Knapp, Sonja

AU - Lindley, Sarah

AU - Triguero-Mas, Margarita

AU - Böhning-Gaese, Katrin

AU - Braubach, Matthias

AU - Cook, Penny A.

AU - de Vries, Sjerp

AU - Heintz-Buschart, Anna

AU - Hofmann, Max

AU - Irvine, Katherine N.

AU - Kabisch, Nadja

AU - Kolek, Franziska

AU - Kraemer, Roland

AU - Markevych, Iana

AU - Martens, Dörte

AU - Müller, Ruth

AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark

AU - Potts, Jacqueline M.

AU - Stadler, Jutta

AU - Walton, Samantha

AU - Warber, Sara L.

AU - Bonn, Aletta

N1 - Funding Information: We thank three anonymous reviewers and Michael Scherer-Lorenzen for their helpful suggestions that strengthened the manuscript. The Expert Workshop and publication costs were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation [grant number 96 067]. MRM, AB and AHB were funded by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig of the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG-FZT 118, 202548816]. MRM and AB received additional funding through the Dr. Forest project, funded by the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG 428795724], as part of the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals). TH received financial support from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning [grant number 2016-01157]. MTM is funded by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship [grant number FJCI-2017-33842] awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. KNI and JMP acknowledge funding from the Scottish Government's Rural Affairs, Food and Environment Strategic Research Portfolio. IM is supported by the TEAM-NET program of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Program [grant number POIR.04.04.00-1763/18-00]. NK acknowledges funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [grant number 01LN1705A]. RM is supported from the BMBF [grant number 01Kl1717] as part of the National Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases of Germany, and from the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals) [grant number G0G2319N]. SL and PC are supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council under the Valuing Nature Program [grant number NE/N013530/1]. Funding Information: We thank three anonymous reviewers and Michael Scherer-Lorenzen for their helpful suggestions that strengthened the manuscript. The Expert Workshop and publication costs were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation [grant number 96 067]. MRM, AB and AHB were funded by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig of the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG-FZT 118, 202548816]. MRM and AB received additional funding through the Dr. Forest project, funded by the German Research Foundation [grant number DFG 428795724], as part of the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals). TH received financial support from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning [grant number 2016-01157]. MTM is funded by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship [grant number FJCI-2017-33842] awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. KNI and JMP acknowledge funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Affairs, Food and Environment Strategic Research Portfolio. IM is supported by the TEAM-NET program of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Program [grant number POIR.04.04.00-1763/18-00]. NK acknowledges funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [grant number 01LN1705A]. RM is supported from the BMBF [grant number 01Kl1717] as part of the National Research Network on Zoonotic Infectious Diseases of Germany, and from the BiodivERsA3 ERA-Net COFUND program (2018-2019 BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals) [grant number G0G2319N]. SL and PC are supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council under the Valuing Nature Program [grant number NE/N013530/1]. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)

PY - 2021/5

Y1 - 2021/5

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Biodiversity

KW - Ecosystem services

KW - Human well-being

KW - Mediation

KW - Nature

KW - Public health

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DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420

M3 - Review article

C2 - 33556912

AN - SCOPUS:85100526557

VL - 150

JO - Environment international

JF - Environment international

SN - 0160-4120

M1 - 106420

ER -

By the same author(s)