Page - 253 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

253 is an important and emerging area of clinical and public health practice (Axelson et  al. 2018; Andermann 2016). Reducing unhealthy behaviours requires the construction of supportive environ- ments that facilitate healthier lifestyles. A biodiverse natural environment is a health-promoting resource (Lovell et  al. 2014). More fundamentally, biodiverse environments are a foundation for human well-being and health, helping to sustain ecosystems that provide human health benefits, including within nutrition and med- icine. A number of suggested conceptual and practical frameworks have been described that link ecosystem health and biodiversity with human health and well- being (Keune et  al. 2013; Tzoulas et  al. 2007, Fig.  11.1). Biological diversity (biodiversity) is “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosys- tems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems” (United Nations  Convention on Ecosystem services Genetic resources, natural products, ... Food provision, pollination, ... Air purification Healthy diet Clean air Fresh water Natural hazard protection Buffering spread of infectious diseases Nature experience Biological control of invasive species Biological control of infectious diseases Recovery from illness & stress, social ties and physical activity, inspiration and culture, intellectual performance and child development Water purification Buffering of floods, droughts & effects of climate change Medicine & therapy Ecosystem benefits Biodiversity Public Health Fig. 11.1 Overview of the relationship between biodiversity and public health. (Source Keune et  al. 2013) 11 Biodiversity and  Health in  the  Face of  Climate Change: Implications for  Public…