title: A systematic review of the health and well-being benefits of biodiverse environments.
abstract: Recent ecosystem service models have placed biodiversity as a central factor in the processes that link the natural environment to health. While it is recognized that disturbed ecosystems might negatively affect human well-being, it is not clear whether biodiversity is related to or can promote "good" human health and well-being. The aim of this study was to systematically identify, summarize, and synthesize research that had examined whether biodiverse environments are health promoting. The objectives were twofold: (1) to map the interdisciplinary field of enquiry and (2) to assess whether current evidence enables us to characterize the relationship. Due to the heterogeneity of available evidence a narrative synthesis approach was used, which is textual rather than statistical. Extensive searches identified 17 papers that met the inclusion criteria: 15 quantitative and 2 qualitative. The evidence was varied in disciplinary origin, with authors approaching the question using different study designs and methods, and conceptualizations of biodiversity, health, and well-being. There is some evidence to suggest that biodiverse natural environments promote better health through exposure to pleasant environments or the encouragement of health-promoting behaviors. There was also evidence of inverse relationships, particularly at a larger scale (global analyses). However, overall the evidence is inconclusive and fails to identify a specific role for biodiversity in the promotion of better health. High-quality interdisciplinary research is needed to produce a more reliable evidence base. Of particular importance is identifying the specific ecosystem services, goods, and processes through which biodiversity may generate good health and well-being.
authors.affiliation: a European Centre for Environment & Human Health , University of Exeter Medical School , Truro , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Benedict W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Sahran L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Katherine N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Depledge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health