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measurements is exciting and needs operationalisation on a greater scale to provide
exposure risk alerts, environmental health-service infrastructure and personalised
forecasts.
Another health issue derived from biodiversity-human contacts as discussed by
Ruth Müller and co-authors is vector-borne diseases (VBDs), i.e. illnesses caused
by parasites, viruses and bacteria transmitted by a vector, often insects, like blood
sucking mosquitos. These are estimated to account for 17% of the global burden
of non-communicable diseases, often affecting poorer populations living in
degraded ecosystems in the Global South. In Europe, on average 77,000 people
are affected by VBDs, and this figure is expected to rise, as abundance and regional
distribution of these vectors are shaped by a changing climate as well as human
transport. A warming climate may facilitate the spread of alien invasive species
such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and disease-transmitting ticks
to Northern Europe as well as alter vector and host behaviour. Understanding and
forecasting these changes is needed to inform pro-active natural resource manage-
ment to prevent and halt establishment of vector populations. Notably, the diver-
sity of pathogens as well as the diversity of vectors and hosts are as yet largely
unknown and requires further research. Since biodiverse environments can con-
tribute to discovering natural and novel insecticides as well as medially active
compounds, global conservation efforts for biodiversity hotspots are needed to
maintain options for vector control and pharmaceutical development. In addition,
genetic tools in vector control need to be understood and further developed whilst,
possibly more importantly, the socio-ecological systems need to be considered
and traditional knowledge within local communities incorporated to manage
VBDs. As the authors argue, most VBDs can be prevented through vector control
if managed effectively, and a transdisciplinary approach across sectors is needed
for successful implementation. It is not mainly the lack of scientific expertise but
a lack of capacity and capabilities for implementation of good practice that hinder
effective management. Comprehensive national strategies, community engage-
ment and the application of varied intervention toolboxes are needed. At a policy
level the WHO Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030 provides strategic
guidance to deal with VBDs, and should be incorporated in climate adaptation and
conservation policies.
Nadia Kabisch highlights in her review that socio-economic and socio-
demographic effects are strong co-determinants of health, and confound the associa-
tion of the impact of green space on health in many studies. Whilst these confounding
effects will always be strong predictors, associations between green space and
health vary in strength across different case studies and evidence appears strongest
with respect to cardiovascular diseases and mental health. As several studies reported
a moderating effect of urban green spaces on health inequalities between different
socio-economic groups, this points to important avenues for green space urban plan-
ning especially in deprived neighbourhoods. The perceived quality and safety of
green spaces seems to play a particularly important role in determining actual use of
those spaces. Appreciation of different green space qualities varies between age
M. R. Marselle et al.
Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change
- Titel
- Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change
- Autoren
- Melissa Marselle
- Jutta Stadler
- Horst Korn
- Katherine Irvine
- Aletta Bonn
- Verlag
- Springer Open
- Datum
- 2019
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-02318-8
- Abmessungen
- 15.5 x 24.0 cm
- Seiten
- 508
- Schlagwörter
- Environment, Environmental health, Applied ecology, Climate change, Biodiversity, Public health, Regional planning, Urban planning
- Kategorien
- Naturwissenschaften Umwelt und Klima