Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity conservation

TLDR

Biodiversity loss is accelerating amid population growth, climate change, and development, yet the growing evidence shows that nature and biodiversity confer significant human health benefits, underscoring the urgent need for deeper mechanistic research. The study aims to synthesize existing knowledge on human health–nature relationships, compile reported health effects, and advocate for land‑use planning that prioritizes well‑being and a multidisciplinary coalition to guide research and policy. The authors conducted a comprehensive review of the literature, cataloguing reported health effects associated with biodiversity and nature exposure. They found robust links between biodiversity, ecosystem services, and health benefits—particularly microbial exposure reducing allergic and respiratory diseases—though most studies are correlative and limited in rigor, indicating that stronger evidence and integrated policies could improve human and ecosystem resilience.

Abstract

We are at a key juncture in history where biodiversity loss is occurring daily and accelerating in the face of population growth, climate change, and rampant development. Simultaneously, we are just beginning to appreciate the wealth of human health benefits that stem from experiencing nature and biodiversity. Here we assessed the state of knowledge on relationships between human health and nature and biodiversity, and prepared a comprehensive listing of reported health effects. We found strong evidence linking biodiversity with production of ecosystem services and between nature exposure and human health, but many of these studies were limited in rigor and often only correlative. Much less information is available to link biodiversity and health. However, some robust studies indicate that exposure to microbial biodiversity can improve health, specifically in reducing certain allergic and respiratory diseases. Overall, much more research is needed on mechanisms of causation. Also needed are a re-envisioning of land-use planning that places human well-being at the center and a new coalition of ecologists, health and social scientists and planners to conduct research and develop policies that promote human interaction with nature and biodiversity. Improvements in these areas should enhance human health and ecosystem, community, as well as human resilience.