IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v12y2015i8p9768-9798d54341.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Green Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, and Human Health

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Coutts

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University, 113 Collegiate Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA)

  • Micah Hahn

    (National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO Postal Code 80305, USA
    Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA)

Abstract

Contemporary ecological models of health prominently feature the natural environment as fundamental to the ecosystem services that support human life, health, and well-being. The natural environment encompasses and permeates all other spheres of influence on health. Reviews of the natural environment and health literature have tended, at times intentionally, to focus on a limited subset of ecosystem services as well as health benefits stemming from the presence, and access and exposure to, green infrastructure. The sweeping influence of green infrastructure on the myriad ecosystem services essential to health has therefore often been underrepresented. This survey of the literature aims to provide a more comprehensive picture—in the form of a primer—of the many simultaneously acting health co-benefits of green infrastructure. It is hoped that a more accurately exhaustive list of benefits will not only instigate further research into the health co-benefits of green infrastructure but also promote consilience in the many fields, including public health, that must be involved in the landscape conservation necessary to protect and improve health and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Coutts & Micah Hahn, 2015. "Green Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-31, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:8:p:9768-9798:d:54341
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/8/9768/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/8/9768/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kate E. Jones & Nikkita G. Patel & Marc A. Levy & Adam Storeygard & Deborah Balk & John L. Gittleman & Peter Daszak, 2008. "Global trends in emerging infectious diseases," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7181), pages 990-993, February.
    2. Helliwell, John F., 2003. "How's life? Combining individual and national variables to explain subjective well-being," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 331-360, March.
    3. Frumkin, H. & Hess, J. & Luber, G. & Malilay, J. & McGeehin, M., 2008. "Climate change: The public health response," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(3), pages 435-445.
    4. Valentin Bellassen & Sebastiaan Luyssaert, 2014. "Carbon sequestration: Managing forests in uncertain times," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7487), pages 153-155, February.
    5. Jonathan A. Patz & Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum & Tracey Holloway & Jonathan A. Foley, 2005. "Impact of regional climate change on human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7066), pages 310-317, November.
    6. Ferdinand, A.O. & Sen, B. & Rahurkar, S. & Engler, S. & Menachemi, N., 2012. "The relationship between built environments and physical activity: A systematic review," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(10), pages 7-13.
    7. Kuo, F.E. & Faber Taylor, A., 2004. "A potential natural treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence from a national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(9), pages 1580-1586.
    8. Smith, Claire & Levermore, Geoff, 2008. "Designing urban spaces and buildings to improve sustainability and quality of life in a warmer world," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4558-4562, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Liisa Andersen & Sus Sola Corazon & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2021. "Nature Exposure and Its Effects on Immune System Functioning: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-48, February.
    2. Amjad Almusaed & Asaad Almssad & Asaad Alasadi & Ibrahim Yitmen & Sammera Al-Samaraee, 2023. "Assessing the Role and Efficiency of Thermal Insulation by the “BIO-GREEN PANEL” in Enhancing Sustainability in a Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-25, July.
    3. Beata Joanna Gawryszewska & Maciej Łepkowski & Łukasz Pietrych & Anna Wilczyńska & Piotr Archiciński, 2024. "The Structure of Beauty: Informal Green Spaces in Their Users’ Eyes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Tamzyn M Davey & Linda A Selvey, 2020. "Relationship between Land Use/Land-Use Change and Human Health in Australia: A Scoping Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-27, December.
    5. Anna Wilczyńska & Gloria Niin & Peeter Vassiljev & Izabela Myszka & Simon Bell, 2023. "Perceptions and Patterns of Use of Blue Spaces in Selected European Cities: Tartu, Tallinn, Barcelona, Warsaw and Plymouth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-30, April.
    6. Jürgen Schmude & Markus Pillmayer & Maximilian Witting & Philipp Corradini, 2021. "Geography Matters, But… Evolving Success Factors for Nature-Oriented Health Tourism within Selected Alpine Destinations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Otavio Medeiros Sobrinho & Anderson Paulo Rudke & Marcos Vinicius Bueno de Morais & Leila Droprinchinski Martins, 2023. "Meteorological Effects of Green Infrastructure on a Developing Medium Latin American City: A Numerical Modeling Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Inger-Lill Eikaas & Helene Roussel & Anne-Karine H. Thorén & Wenche E. Dramstad, 2023. "Applying Landscape Ecology in Local Planning, Some Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    9. María I. Rodríguez-Rojas & Alejandro L. Grindlay Moreno, 2022. "A Discussion on the Application of Terminology for Urban Soil Sealing Mitigation Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    10. Yipeng Ge & Shubo Chen & Yueshan Ma & Yitong Wang & Yafei Guo & Qizheng Gan, 2024. "Ecosystem Services and Public Perception of Green Infrastructure from the Perspective of Urban Parks: A Case Study of Luoyang City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Borja Ruiz-Apilánez & Estitxu Ormaetxea & Itziar Aguado-Moralejo, 2023. "Urban Green Infrastructure Accessibility: Investigating Environmental Justice in a European and Global Green Capital," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-30, August.
    12. Patricia Schwartz & Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran & Francisco Lara-Valencia & Hilda García-Pérez & Gabriel Díaz Montemayor & Claudia Gil Anaya & Joaquin Marruffo & Oscar A. Rodriguez Ponce & Zoe Holtzman, 2023. "Pathways to Greening Border Cities: A Policy Analysis for Green Infrastructure in Ambos Nogales," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, March.
    13. Diego Guidolin & Deanna Anderlini & Guido Maura & Manuela Marcoli & Pietro Cortelli & Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura & Amina S. Woods & Luigi F. Agnati, 2019. "A New Integrative Theory of Brain-Body-Ecosystem Medicine: From the Hippocratic Holistic View of Medicine to Our Modern Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-20, August.
    14. Benjamin Guinaudeau & Mark Brink & Beat Schäffer & Martin A. Schlaepfer, 2023. "A Methodology for Quantifying the Spatial Distribution and Social Equity of Urban Green and Blue Spaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Kristoffer Mattisson & Anna Axmon & Gunilla Carlsson & Agneta Malmgren Fänge & Connie Lethin & Emilie Stroh, 2022. "Sociodemographic Variations in the Availability of Urban Green Spaces in an Older Swedish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Yilun Zhao & Yan Rong & Yiyi Liu & Tianshu Lin & Liangji Kong & Qinqin Dai & Runzi Wang, 2023. "Investigating Urban Flooding and Nutrient Export under Different Urban Development Scenarios in the Rouge River Watershed in Michigan, USA," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, December.
    17. Huai, Songyao & Chen, Fen & Liu, Song & Canters, Frank & Van de Voorde, Tim, 2022. "Using social media photos and computer vision to assess cultural ecosystem services and landscape features in urban parks," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    18. Vidya Anderson & Manavvi Suneja & Jelena Dunjic, 2023. "Sensing and Measurement Techniques for Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions: A State-of-the-Art Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-39, July.
    19. Huixin Wang & Jing Xie & Shixian Luo & Duy Thong Ta & Qian Wang & Jiao Zhang & Daer Su & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Exploring the Interplay between Landscape Planning and Human Well-Being: A Scientometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. David Parker & Yoko Akachi & Donna Goodman, 2009. "Global Climate Change and Child Health: A review of pathways, impacts and measures to improve the evidence base," Papers indipa09/5, Innocenti Discussion Papers.
    2. Ibrahim Musa & Hyun Woo Park & Lkhagvadorj Munkhdalai & Keun Ho Ryu, 2018. "Global Research on Syndromic Surveillance from 1993 to 2017: Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Sean M Moore & Andrew Monaghan & Kevin S Griffith & Titus Apangu & Paul S Mead & Rebecca J Eisen, 2012. "Improvement of Disease Prediction and Modeling through the Use of Meteorological Ensembles: Human Plague in Uganda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-11, September.
    4. Kate L. Bassil & Donald C. Cole, 2010. "Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions in Reducing Morbidity and Mortality during Heat Episodes: a Structured Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-11, March.
    5. K. Viktoria Stein & Thomas E. Dorner, 2024. "From Health-in-All-Policies to Climate-in-All-Policies: Using the Synergies between Health Promotion and Climate Protection to Take Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Aleck Ostry & Malcolm Ogborn & Kate L. Bassil & Tim K. Takaro & Diana M. Allen, 2010. "Climate Change and Health in British Columbia: Projected Impacts and a Proposed Agenda for Adaptation Research and Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-18, March.
    7. Shilu Tong & Peter Mather & Gerry Fitzgerald & David McRae & Ken Verrall & Dylan Walker, 2010. "Assessing the Vulnerability of Eco-Environmental Health to Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Pei, Qing & Zhang, David D. & Li, Guodong & Winterhalder, Bruce & Lee, Harry F., 2015. "Epidemics in Ming and Qing China: Impacts of changes of climate and economic well-being," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 136, pages 73-80.
    9. Tahseen Ajaz & Muhammad Tariq Majeed, 2018. "Changing Climate Patterns and Women Health: An Empirical Analysis of District Rawalpindi Pakistan," Global Social Sciences Review, Humanity Only, vol. 3(4), pages 320-342, December.
    10. Yating Zhao & Jingjing Guo & Chao Bao & Changyong Liang & Hemant K Jain, 2020. "Knowledge Graph Analysis of Human Health Research Related to Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Fabrizio Carmignani & Sriram Shankar & Eng Tan & Kam Tang, 2014. "Identifying covariates of population health using extreme bound analysis," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 15(5), pages 515-531, June.
    12. Tammy Hambling & Philip Weinstein & David Slaney, 2011. "A Review of Frameworks for Developing Environmental Health Indicators for Climate Change and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-22, July.
    13. Molini, A. & Talkner, P. & Katul, G.G. & Porporato, A., 2011. "First passage time statistics of Brownian motion with purely time dependent drift and diffusion," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 390(11), pages 1841-1852.
    14. Nikolett Orosz & Tünde Tóthné Tóth & Gyöngyi Vargáné Gyuró & Zsoltné Tibor Nábrádi & Klára Hegedűsné Sorosi & Zsuzsa Nagy & Éva Rigó & Ádám Kaposi & Gabriella Gömöri & Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso & A, 2022. "Comparison of Length of Hospital Stay for Community-Acquired Infections Due to Enteric Pathogens, Influenza Viruses and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hungary," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    15. Denis Maragno & Michele Dalla Fontana & Francesco Musco, 2020. "Mapping Heat Stress Vulnerability and Risk Assessment at the Neighborhood Scale to Drive Urban Adaptation Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    16. Bing Li & Zhifeng Liu & Ying Nan & Shengnan Li & Yanmin Yang, 2018. "Comparative Analysis of Urban Heat Island Intensities in Chinese, Russian, and DPRK Regions across the Transnational Urban Agglomeration of the Tumen River in Northeast Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, July.
    17. Akhlaq Amin Wani & Amir Farooq Bhat & Aaasif Ali Gatoo & Shiba Zahoor & Basira Mehraj & Naveed Najam & Qaisar Shafi Wani & M A Islam & Shah Murtaza & Moonisa Aslam Dervash & P K Joshi, 2021. "Assessing relationship of forest biophysical factors with NDVI for carbon management in key coniferous strata of temperate Himalayas," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1-22, January.
    18. Jonathan E. Suk & Kristie L. Ebi & David Vose & Willy Wint & Neil Alexander & Koen Mintiens & Jan C. Semenza, 2014. "Indicators for Tracking European Vulnerabilities to the Risks of Infectious Disease Transmission due to Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, February.
    19. Mudassar Arsalan & Omar Mubin & Fady Alnajjar & Belal Alsinglawi, 2020. "COVID-19 Global Risk: Expectation vs. Reality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-10, August.
    20. Oasis Kodila-Tedika & Julius Agbor, 2016. "Does Trust Matter for Entrepreneurship: Evidence from a Cross-Section of Countries," Economies, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-17, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:8:p:9768-9798:d:54341. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.