Page - 405 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

405 nity level. Examples of community engagement processes include group work- shops, roundtable discussions and charrettes. 5. Need to design urban green space interventions that incorporate and maximize health, environmental and social benefits. 6. Need to use a dual approach that incorporates promotion and marketing of urban green space as well as changing the physical environment (i.e. more complex than ‘build it and they will come’), particularly for health and social benefits. 7. Local practitioners need to actively engage with the evaluation process, for example by engaging with local universities, organisations and the local community. 17.3.2 Policy Recommendations Providing and protecting urban green space presents a significant policy opportu- nity to improve multiple facets of quality of life and the environment with well- developed and sensitive urban green space interventions. Whilst the evidence summarised here and in other reviews is sometimes mixed, there is a preponderance generally supporting the association between urban green space and health, well- being, and social and environmental outcomes. Policy-makers must also ensure that any provision or improvement of urban green space is done so through an ‘equity lens’. The few published economic evaluations of urban green space interventions are positive. Bird et  al. (2014) suggest significant financial savings could be made as a result of increased numbers of people walking and cycling. Similarly, a model- ling study suggested that effectiveness estimates as low as a 2% gain in population physical activity levels would be cost-effective (£18, 411/disability-adjusted life- year) (Dallat et  al. 2014). Although the direct health gains are predicted to be small for any individual, summed over an entire population they are substantial (e.g. health value of physical activity in natural environments in England has been esti- mated at £2.2bn/year) (White et  al. 2016). 17.3.3 Research Recommendations Findings from the recent WHO Regional Office for Europe report (2016) demon- strate substantial evidence to support the association between urban green space for environmental, health and well-being impacts, alongside suggested mechanisms of action. We must now move towards intervention-based research that will help policy- makers and practitioners. Findings from the evidence review suggest that areas in need of specific attention include research investigating the impact of urban green space interventions on equity indicators and economic factors (for more information, see Kabisch, Chap. 5 this volume). Research should also move beyond assessing the effects of such interventions on physical activity and usage, towards 17 Environmental, Health and  Equity Effects of  Urban Green Space Interventions