Page - 372 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

372 Urban parks and other forms of natural infrastructure can conserve healthy eco- systems and improve human health and well-being, while addressing challenges related to climate change, such as heat stress, storm surges and flooding (IUCN 2014). Maintaining and expanding both terrestrial and aquatic natural spaces must therefore be a key consideration in urban planning if the health of residents is a priority. Since cities also depend on and affect their surroundings, planners should also consider connections between cities and the broader landscapes in order to ensure that impacts on natural ecosystems are minimised and positive contributions to biodiversity conservation are maximised (see also Heiland et  al. Chap. 19, this volume). This is challenging to do effectively and equitably, given the conflicting demands for land, resources and development, particularly in developing and rap- idly urbanising parts of the world. Therefore, it is important that biodiversity con- servation is recognised as a valuable contribution to a range of policy objectives, such as job opportunities, youth and community development, public health, water, energy and adaptation to climate change. Recommendations from the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney in 2014 (IUCN 2014) and the New Urban Agenda (United Nations 2016), agreed at Habitat III in Quito in 2016, recognise the relevance of protected areas and nature to sustain- able cities. Other global policy processes have also explicitly made the connection between nature and health. The UNFCCC Paris Agreement recognised and pro- moted the valuable role of ecosystem-based adaptation, including protected areas, to address climate change impacts (United Nations 2015). The Convention on Box 16.3: ClimateWatch Trails for Schools and Communities (Australia) ClimateWatch is a national citizen science programme designed to enable every Australian to be involved in collecting and recording data that helps shape the country’s scientific response to climate change. Parks and protected areas provide ideal locations in which to assess the impacts of climate change as they provide scientists with information on land- scapes in contrast with developed and urban areas. ClimateWatch trails are a great opportunity for park visitors to engage in long-term climate change research by recording their observations of nature. Parks Victoria is partnering with Earthwatch Australia to develop new ClimateWatch trails in parks. The programme is aimed at schools and com- munity groups in areas of social disadvantage from regional Victoria, encour- aging students and community members to get active in the outdoors by recording data that can be used by scientists to monitor the natural environ- ment. School-based curriculum resources have been developed as part of this programme. The programme connects education, inclusion and citizen science, along with the numerous health and well-being benefits of connecting people from all walks of life to parks. Source: Parks Victoria. K. MacKinnon et al.