Page - 435 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

435 1. Health as a factor to be assessed by Strategic Environmental Assessment 2. Health as an argument to further support ‘traditional’ landscape planning goals 3. Health as an independent topic in landscape planning. 1. Health as a factor to be assessed by Strategic Environmental Assessment Integration of human health in a SEA (being a part of Sustainability Appraisal in England) is already legally required by the EU SEA  Directive 2001/42/EC.  The positive and negative health impacts of the proposed objectives and measures in a plan need to be thoroughly addressed. As a result, adverse health effects will be avoided and positive effects of (landscape) planning can be identified. These posi- tive health effects of goals and measures, which are  primarily aimed at landscape and biodiversity  conservation, could be more explicitly  named as they justify those goals and measures  from a different, more  antropocentric,  perspective. This could lead to a higher societal and political acceptance than pure ‘environmental conser- vation  arguments’ might get. Nonetheless, this approach does not allow for pro- actively taking means to directly enhance the health benefits of green spaces. 2. Health as an argument to further support ‘traditional’ landscape planning goals ‘Traditional’ landscape planning in Germany aims at improving the state of the environment mainly in terms of biodiversity, but also in terms of landscape, soil, water, air and climate. Very often goals and measures identified for these purposes have positive side effects for human health, which are usually not explicitly men- tioned in the plans. Hence, this option seeks to draw more attention to health effects by identifying and exposing them, and is therefore similar to the first option, but can also be used where no SEA is required. It is still the case, however, that no predomi- nantly health-related objectives, goals, or measures are pursued with this option. Table  19.1 gives an overview of objectives often included in German landscape plans, and their potential health-related side effects. By naming these health effects, they could become effects pursued in landscape planning more consciously and proactive, rather than simply remaining unintended ‘side effects’ as at present. Methodologically, this option requires a survey and evaluation of health-related characteristics of specific green spaces as well as the likely health outcomes of implementing landscape planning objectives and measures. While the potential health benefits may be straightforward to identify based on current knowledge and evidence (e.g. WHO 2016), the scale and reach of the benefits may require more sophisticated tools than are conventionally available to planning officers. Many planning documents encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. Here too, links to human health and well-being could be drawn, which not only result from minimised negative impacts of traffic (noise and air pollution), but also from enhanced physical fitness and mental health. As access to green spaces and their use is associated with a decrease in health risks such as high blood pres- sure and cholesterol, path and cycleways could be equipped with green structures or set up in green areas of the municipality. 19 Linking Landscape Planning and  Health