Nature's contributions in coping with a pandemic in the 21st century: A narrative review of evidence during COVID-19

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 833, P. 155095 - 155095

Published: April 6, 2022

While COVID-19 lockdowns have slowed coronavirus transmission, such structural measures also unintended consequences on mental and physical health. Growing evidence shows that exposure to the natural environment (e.g., blue-green spaces) can improve human health wellbeing. In this narrative review, we synthesized about nature's contributions wellbeing during first two years of pandemic. We found pandemic, people experienced multiple types nature, including both outdoors indoors. Frequency visits outdoor areas (i.e., public parks) depended lockdown severity socio-cultural contexts. Other forms nature exposure, as spending time in private gardens viewing greenery from windows, may increased. The majority suggests pandemic was associated with less depression, anxiety, stress, more happiness life satisfaction. Additionally, correlated inactivity fewer sleep disturbances. Evidence mixed regarding associations between COVID-related outcomes, while might be greater rates transmission mortality when proper social distancing were not maintained. Findings whether helped ameliorate inequities by impacting lower-socioeconomic populations than their higher-socioeconomic counterparts for example mixed. Based these findings, argue buffered negative behavioral impacts Recovery resilience current crises future improved nature-based infrastructure, interventions, designs, governance.

Language: Английский

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Why garden? – Attitudes and the perceived health benefits of home gardening

Cities, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 112, P. 103118 - 103118

Published: Feb. 10, 2021

Domestic (home) gardens provide opportunities for psychological and physical health benefits, yet these environments have received less attention in terms of their therapeutic value compared to other urban green spaces. This is despite ubiquity the popularity gardening as a pastime. research explored why residents engaged with extent which they recognised any benefits from activity. A questionnaire was distributed electronically within UK, 5766 gardeners 249 non-gardeners responding. Data were collated on factors including garden typology, frequency individual perceptions well-being. Significant associations found between improvements well-being, perceived stress activity more frequent gardening. Gardening basis i.e. at least 2–3 times week, corresponded greatest benefits. Improving health, however, not prime motivator garden, but rather direct pleasure brought participants. There evidence that satisfaction one's front time spent it increased proportion vegetation enhanced. The data supports notion domestic should be given greater prominence planning debates, due role play providing

Language: Английский

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Cultivating sustainable and healthy cities: A systematic literature review of the outcomes of urban and peri-urban agriculture

Sustainable Cities and Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 85, P. 104063 - 104063

Published: July 14, 2022

Despite considerable interest in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) recent decades, its contributions to sustainability human wellbeing remain contested. This systematic literature review examines the geographical landscape of peer-reviewed on UPA assesses reported outcomes wellbeing. Following protocols, we undertook a two-step screening quality assessment process. From total 4029 articles, based inclusion-exclusion criteria, filtered 320 articles for quantitative 86 qualitative assessment. Quantitative analysis confirmed an exponential increase since 2015 regional bias towards Global North. The identified six thematic under three pillars - environmental sustainability; material well-being; labour livelihoods; land tenure planning; food nutritional security as part economic subjective relational well gender social differentiation elements sustainability. Environmental was most discussed, followed by security. Gender issues were least represented papers. There knowledge gaps around how policy planning can recognise, leverage, scale up co-benefits UPA.

Language: Английский

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Gardening can relieve human stress and boost nature connection during the COVID-19 pandemic

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 68, P. 127483 - 127483

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Language: Английский

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A lower connection to nature is related to lower mental health benefits from nature contact

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 20, 2024

Abstract Increasing evidence demonstrates the psychological benefits of nature contact. However, is often established at population level, and individual differences in gained from are considered negligible variations. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional online survey Brisbane Sydney, Australia, April 15th May 15th, 2021 around one year after first covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. The results show that individuals with stronger connection to linked lower level stress anxiety increased frequency public greenspace visits, while such an association less clear for weaker nature. We also find that, through answer open-ended question, tend mention nature-related words as reason visiting greenspace. This indicates person’s how they interact thus might determine whether much benefit person gains experiencing

Language: Английский

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The effects of neighbourhood green spaces on mental health of disadvantaged groups: a systematic review

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: April 5, 2024

Abstract Mental disorders affect many different groups around the world, and disadvantaged are often more severely affected. Neighbourhood green spaces (GS) can improve mental health, especially in groups. Many countries address social inequality inequity through GS interventions. However, current evidence shows inconsistencies, which may result from study site, research design, socio-demographically diverse samples, inclusivity considerations, metrics used to quantify exposure health benefits. Few conceptual models explain how neighbourhood greenery act as a structural intervention. We Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method retrieved 5559 documents eight databases examine whether modify associations found that had substantial protective effects on of people influenced by quality than other exposures, such usage, distance, accessibility. Improvements subjective well-being were most pronounced terms outcomes. Mechanistically, improves mainly increased cohesion and, visibility, young receive further benefits physical activity (PA). These findings offer comprehensive understanding mechanisms between groups, addressing equities induced unfair distribution GS, thus promoting health-oriented environmental planning policies.

Language: Английский

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“We Have Been Part of the Response”: The Effects of COVID-19 on Community and Allotment Gardens in the Global North

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Oct. 4, 2021

Throughout history, urban agriculture practitioners have adapted to various challenges by continuing provide food and social benefits. Urban gardens farms also responded sudden political, economic, ecological, crises: wartime shortages; disinvestment property abandonment; earthquakes floods; climate-change induced weather events; global economic disruptions. This paper examines the effects on, responses by, COVID-19 pandemic. The is based on data collected in summer of 2020 at onset pandemic when cities were struggling with appropriate curb its spread. It builds an international research project (FEW-meter) that developed a methodology measure material benefits (UA) five countries (France, Germany, Poland, UK USA) over two growing seasons, from Food-Energy-Water nexus perspective. We surveyed partners ascertain those we interviewed policy stakeholders each country investigate wider impacts UA. report results respect key areas: (1) garden accessibility service provision during pandemic; (2) adjustments operational arrangements; (3) production; (4) support for through (5) thoughts about future recovery period beyond. shows resulted multiple including loss ability services, lost income, reductions output because reduced labor supply. But created several opportunities: new markets sell locally; more time available gardeners work their allotments; increased community cohesion as neighboring looked out one another. By illustrating range faced pandemic, strategies address used different gardens, illustrates how this become resilient suggests lessons longer-term planning enable UA respond public health other crises.

Language: Английский

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Comparative analysis in thermal behaviour of common urban building materials and vegetation and consequences for urban heat island effect

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 213, P. 108489 - 108489

Published: Nov. 4, 2021

Language: Английский

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Botanical boom: A new opportunity to promote the public appreciation of botany

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 4(4), P. 326 - 334

Published: March 2, 2022

Societal Impact Statement Plants are indispensable to life on Earth. Securing our future requires protecting plant biodiversity and the development of climate‐resilient crops. Activities fostering public appreciation science, promoting plant‐related professions, therefore critical. These efforts can be hindered by awareness disparity, manifesting as difficulty in recognizing presence importance plants. However, interest plants a hobby lifestyle elements has rapidly increased younger demographics over last decade. We suggest these topics should exploited urgently researchers educators increase further reach science communication, thereby enhancing societal botany stimulating degrees career pathways. Summary basis Earth we know it study is essential protect future. Yet crisis suffer low uptake at level undergraduate degrees. Increasing communication about exciting advances knowledge their society may strategy counteract this. Here, comment recent trends perception explore them using infoveillance tools. Our observations highlight that paradoxically decade considerably, with advent new type social media influencer—‘plantfluencers’. Additionally, studies demonstrate COVID‐19 pandemic boosted therapeutic value interacting positive effect human well‐being. this offers window opportunity develop an among wider public, who reconnecting ways. Plant‐focused communities online groups platforms facilitate engagement audiences. In particular, relating houseplants, plant‐based diets benefits mental health well‐being together provide attractive springboard for outreach botany‐focused conversations. discuss make recommendations educators.

Language: Английский

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Experiences of gardening during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Health & Place, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 76, P. 102854 - 102854

Published: June 30, 2022

Language: Английский

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