Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using Green Infrastructure: A literature review

TLDR: In this paper, a conceptual framework of associations between urban green space and ecosystem and human health is proposed, which highlights many dynamic factors, and their complex interactions, affecting ecosystem health and human Health in urban areas.

About: This article is published in Landscape and Urban Planning.The article was published on 2007-06-20 and is currently open access. It has received 2151 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Urban ecosystem & Ecosystem health.

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Table 3: Models and theories linking ecosystem and human health aspects

Figure 1: Conceptual framework integrating Green Infrastructure, ecosystem and human health. The framework has two main parts separated by two-way arrows. The top half (ecosystem) has three interrelated boxes and the bottom half (human health) four interrelated boxes. Two-way arrows indicate two-way interactions. Key: GR: green roofs; UP: urban parks; GC: green corridors; EC: encapsulated countryside; DL: derelict land; HG: housing green space and domestic gardens; CS: churchyards, cemeteries and school grounds; OW: open standing and running water; AP: air purification; CR: climate and radiation regulation; WP: water purification; SN: soil and nutrient cycling; HP: habitat provision; WD: waste decomposition; AS: aesthetic and spiritual; NP: noise pollution control; AQ: air quality; SS: soil structure; EM: energy and material cycling; WQ: water quality; HSD: habitat and species diversity; ER: ecosystem resilience; IE: income and employment; EL: education and lifestyle; LW: living and working conditions; ASH: access to services and housing; CI: sense of community identity; CE: community empowerment; SC: social capital; CL: culture; C: cardiovascular; EI: endocrine functions and immunity; N: nervous system; R: respiratory; D: digestive; B: bone tissue; RS: relaxation from stress; PE: positive emotions; AC: attention capacity; CC: cognitive capacity.

Table 2: Studies exploring the contributions of green spaces and nature to human health

Table 1: Studies defining ecosystem health

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions mentioned in the paper "Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using green infrastructure: a literature review" ?

The aim of this paper is to formulate a conceptual framework of associations between urban green space and ecosystem and human health. Through an interdisciplinary literature review the concepts of Green Infrastructure, ecosystem health, and human health and well-being are discussed. Finally, based on a synthesis of the literature a conceptual framework is presented. This framework forms the context into which extant and new research can be placed. In this way it forms the basis for a new interdisciplinary research agenda.