Ebook: Forests, Trees and Human Health

The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union’s COST Action E39 ‘Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing’, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America and elsewhere and will have relevance worldwide. A state-of-the-art analysis of the global research on the topic of forests and human health, a key contribution of the book is its synthesis of material across both disciplines and nations, providing a vital reference for researchers in forestry, health, natural resource management and environmental policy. Currently the only unified body of work on this topic, the book will also be an important tool for those working in both health and environment policy and practice.

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The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union’s COST Action E39 ‘Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing’, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America and elsewhere and will have relevance worldwide. A state-of-the-art analysis of the global research on the topic of forests and human health, a key contribution of the book is its synthesis of material across both disciplines and nations, providing a vital reference for researchers in forestry, health, natural resource management and environmental policy. Currently the only unified body of work on this topic, the book will also be an important tool for those working in both health and environment policy and practice.

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The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union’s COST Action E39 ‘Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing’, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America and elsewhere and will have relevance worldwide. A state-of-the-art analysis of the global research on the topic of forests and human health, a key contribution of the book is its synthesis of material across both disciplines and nations, providing a vital reference for researchers in forestry, health, natural resource management and environmental policy. Currently the only unified body of work on this topic, the book will also be an important tool for those working in both health and environment policy and practice.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Front Matter....Pages 21-21
Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction....Pages 1-19
Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health....Pages 23-40
Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal Properties....Pages 41-76
Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health....Pages 77-124
Front Matter....Pages 125-125
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Psychological, Social and Cultural Processes....Pages 127-168
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: The Challenge of Linking Practice and Research....Pages 169-182
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Implications of Practice for Research....Pages 183-202
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Contributions of Natural Environments to Physical Activity....Pages 205-243
Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design....Pages 245-282
Motivating People to Be Physically Active in Green Spaces....Pages 283-306
Front Matter....Pages 307-307
Nature-Based Therapeutic Interventions....Pages 309-342
Outdoor Education, Life Long Learning and Skills Development in Woodlands and Green Spaces: The Potential Links to Health and Well-Being....Pages 343-372
Front Matter....Pages 373-373
Measuring Health Benefits of Green Space in Economic Terms....Pages 375-402
Postscript: Landscapes and Health as Representations of Cultural Diversity....Pages 403-409
Back Matter....Pages 411-427

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The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union’s COST Action E39 ‘Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing’, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America and elsewhere and will have relevance worldwide. A state-of-the-art analysis of the global research on the topic of forests and human health, a key contribution of the book is its synthesis of material across both disciplines and nations, providing a vital reference for researchers in forestry, health, natural resource management and environmental policy. Currently the only unified body of work on this topic, the book will also be an important tool for those working in both health and environment policy and practice.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Front Matter....Pages 21-21
Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction....Pages 1-19
Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health....Pages 23-40
Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal Properties....Pages 41-76
Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health....Pages 77-124
Front Matter....Pages 125-125
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Psychological, Social and Cultural Processes....Pages 127-168
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: The Challenge of Linking Practice and Research....Pages 169-182
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Implications of Practice for Research....Pages 183-202
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Contributions of Natural Environments to Physical Activity....Pages 205-243
Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design....Pages 245-282
Motivating People to Be Physically Active in Green Spaces....Pages 283-306
Front Matter....Pages 307-307
Nature-Based Therapeutic Interventions....Pages 309-342
Outdoor Education, Life Long Learning and Skills Development in Woodlands and Green Spaces: The Potential Links to Health and Well-Being....Pages 343-372
Front Matter....Pages 373-373
Measuring Health Benefits of Green Space in Economic Terms....Pages 375-402
Postscript: Landscapes and Health as Representations of Cultural Diversity....Pages 403-409
Back Matter....Pages 411-427
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