Forests, Trees and Human Health

by Nilsson, Kjell; Sangster, Marcus; Gallis, Christos; Hartig, Terry; De Vries, Sjerp

• ISBN13: 9789048198054
• ISBN10: 9048198054
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-10-13
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction	p. 1
Forest Products and Environmental Services
Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health	p. 23
Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal Properties	p. 41
Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health	p. 77
Physical and Mental Health and the Experience of Nature
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Psychological, Social and Cultural Processes	p. 127
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: The Challenge of Linking Practice and Research	p. 169
Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Implications of Practice for Research	p. 183
Promoting Physical Activity
Contributions of Natural Environments to Physical Activity: Theory and Evidence Base	p. 205
Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design	p. 245
Motivating People to Be Physically Active in Green Spaces	p. 283
Therapeutical and Educational Aspects
Nature-Based Therapeutic Interventions	p. 309
Outdoor Education, Life Long Learning and Skills Development in Woodlands and Green Spaces: The Potential Links to Health and Well-Being	p. 343
Forest and Health Policies and Economics
Measuring Health Benefits of Green Space in Economic Terms	p. 375
Postscript: Landscapes and Health as Representations of Cultural Diversity	p. 403
Index	p. 411
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