Seite - 374 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

374 health  – a recent natural capital accounting for London found that the city’s green spaces provide an estimated saving of £370  million annually for mental health-care and an additional £580  million from improved physical health (Vivid Economics Ltd 2017). More research is still needed, particularly on health benefits from nature for different demographic and social groups (Shanahan et  al. 2015) to maximise understanding of the socio-economic benefits of protected areas, but there are now strong arguments that biodiversity conservation can be a key contributor to address- ing both climate change adaptation and health-care (see Kabisch Chap. 5, this vol- ume, and Cook et  al. Chap. 11, this volume, for more detail). Box 16.4: Conservation and Health Benefits of Rouge National Urban Park, Canada Protected areas in and near urban areas can have significant benefits for biodi- versity conservation and human health and well-being. Canada’s first national urban park  – Rouge National Urban Park  – was created in the Greater Toronto Area in 2015, thanks to the efforts of Parks Canada, and a diverse partnership of countless individuals, indigenous partners, other levels of government, the park’s farming community, community organisations, conservation groups and volunteers. Once fully established, Rouge National Urban Park will be one of the larg- est and best protected urban parks globally, spanning 79.1  km2 in the heart of Canada’s largest and most diverse metropolitan area and overlapping five municipalities. The location of this park, which is within easy access for 20% of the country’s population, creates an excellent opportunity to engage current and future generations of Canadians with the natural, cultural and agricultural heritage of the area. Parks Canada is collaborating with various community partners to develop and deliver initiatives for Rouge National Urban Park visitors and Greater Toronto Area residents. One programme is specifically focussed on the health benefits of the park. The Mood Walks programme, which is run by the Canadian Mental Health Association in partnership with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario builds on the fact that time in nature with others can improve symptoms of existing disorders by reducing anxiety or depression (e.g. Bratman et  al. 2015). Guided walks are targeted at youth aged 13–24 years who are enrolled in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program at the Scarborough and Rouge Hospital. The walking activities aim to help these young people improve their physical and mental health as well as their social skills by developing outdoors and conservation interests, meeting fun and interesting people, and learning more about wildlife, forests, wetlands and farms. Source: Rouge National Urban Park 2016. K. MacKinnon et al.