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.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
From the reviews:
"This book-the product of a four-year European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) project-is a timely addition to the literature . . the book seems ideal for the practitioner or service-manager looking for a comprehensive overview of the key considerations for using forests and other 'green spaces' more systematically to enhance the health and quality of the life of individuals and communities." (Mike Morgan, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Vol. 18 (10), October, 2011)
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
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Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-90-481-9806-1 (9789048198061)
DOI
10.1007/978-90-481-9806-1
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Preface.- 1. Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction.- Part I: Forest Products and Environmental Services. 2. Urban forests and their ecosystem services in relation to human health.- 3. Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal Properties.- 4. Negative aspects and hazardous effects of forest environment on human health.- Part II: Physical and Mental Health and the Experience of Nature. 5. Health benefits of nature experience: Psychological, social and cultural processes.- 6. Health benefits of nature experience: The challenge of linking practice and research.- 7. Health benefits of nature experience: Implications of practice for research.- Part III: Promoting Physical Activity. 8. Contributions of Natural Environments to Physical Activity.- 9. Natural elements and physical activity in urban green space planning and design.- 10. Motivating people to be physically active in green spaces.- Part IV: Therapeutical and Educational Aspects. 11. Nature-based therapeutic interventions.- 12. Outdoor education, life long learning and skills development in woodlands and green spaces: the potential links to health and well-being.- Part V: Forest and Health Policies and Economics. 13. Measuring health benefits of green space in economic terms.- Postscript: Landscapes and health as representations of cultural diversity.-
