Forests, Trees and Human Health

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. Forest Products and Environmental Services

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21

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   2. Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction

      • Kjell Nilsson, Marcus Sangster, Cecil C. Konijnendijk

      Pages 1-19

   3. Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health

      • Giovanni Sanesi, Christos Gallis, Hans Dieter Kasperidus

      Pages 23-40

   4. Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal Properties

      • Christos Gallis, Mariella Di Stefano, Paraskevi Moutsatsou, Tytti Sarjala, Vesa Virtanen, Bjarne Holmbom et al.

      Pages 41-76

   5. Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health

      • Marek Tomalak, Elio Rossi, Francesco Ferrini, Paola A. Moro

      Pages 77-124

3. Physical and Mental Health and the Experience of Nature

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125

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   2. Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Psychological, Social and Cultural Processes

      • Terry Hartig, Agnes E. van den Berg, Caroline M. Hagerhall, Marek Tomalak, Nicole Bauer, Ralf Hansmann et al.

      Pages 127-168

   3. Health Benefits of Nature Experience: The Challenge of Linking Practice and Research

      • Ann Van Herzele, Simon Bell, Terry Hartig, Marie Therese Camilleri Podesta, Ronald van Zon

      Pages 169-182

   4. Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Implications of Practice for Research

      • Simon Bell, Ronald van Zon, Ann Van Herzele, Terry Hartig

      Pages 183-202

4. Promoting Physical Activity

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 203-203

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   2. Contributions of Natural Environments to Physical Activity

      • Sjerp de Vries, Thomas Claßen, Stella-Maria Eigenheer-Hug, Kalevi Korpela, Jolanda Maas, Richard Mitchell et al.

      Pages 205-243

   3. Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design

      • Paolo Semenzato, Tuija Sievänen, Eva Silveirinha de Oliveira, Ana Luisa Soares, Renate Spaeth

      Pages 245-282

   4. Motivating People to Be Physically Active in Green Spaces

      • Amalia Drakou, Rik De Vreese, Tove Lofthus, Jo Muscat

      Pages 283-306

5. Therapeutical and Educational Aspects

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 307-307

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   2. Nature-Based Therapeutic Interventions

      • Ulrika K. Stigsdotter, Anna Maria Palsdottir, Ambra Burls, Alessandra Chermaz, Francesco Ferrini, Patrik Grahn

      Pages 309-342

   3. Outdoor Education, Life Long Learning and Skills Development in Woodlands and Green Spaces: The Potential Links to Health and Well-Being

      • Liz O’Brien, Ambra Burls, Peter Bentsen, Inger Hilmo, Kari Holter, Dorothee Haberling et al.

      Pages 343-372

6. Forest and Health Policies and Economics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 373-373

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   2. Measuring Health Benefits of Green Space in Economic Terms

      • Ken Willis, Bob Crabtree

      Pages 375-402

   3. Postscript: Landscapes and Health as Representations of Cultural Diversity

      • Klaus Seeland

      Pages 403-409

The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union’s COST Action E39 ‘Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing’, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America.

• Forests
• Horticultural therapy
• Human health
• Nature experience
• Urban forestry

From the reviews:

“This book—the product of a four-year European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) project—is a timely addition to the literature … . the book seems ideal for the practitioner or service-manager looking for a comprehensive overview of the key considerations for using forests and other ‘green spaces’ more systematically to enhance the health and quality of the life of individuals and communities.” (Mike Morgan, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Vol. 18 (10), October, 2011)

• Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Parks and Urban Landscapes, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

  Kjell Nilsson

• , Land Use and Social Research, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

  Marcus Sangster

• , National Agricultural Research Foundatio, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece

  Christos Gallis

• , Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Gävle, Sweden

  Terry Hartig

• , Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, Netherlands

  Sjerp de Vries

• , Group Society, Environment & Culture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E, Zurich, Switzerland

  Klaus Seeland

• , National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen K, Denmark

  Jasper Schipperijn

Policies and ethics