Health and natural landscapes : concepts and applications /
Alan W. Ewert, PhD, Indiana University, USA ; Denise S. Mitten, PhD, Prescott College, USA ; Jillisa R. Overholt, PhD, Warren Wilson College, USA.
- 1 online resource (xv, 116 pages) : illustrations, charts, photographs
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Natural Landscapes and Human Health: an Introduction and Overview -- Human Perceptions of Nature -- Natural Landscapes and the Health Crisis -- Theories and Concepts: Linking Landscapes and Health -- Outcomes, Benefits, and Opportunities: Western Research Trends -- Applications: Facilitating Healthy Connections with Nature -- Connecting with Landscapes: Intentional Access to Green Space -- Conclusions and Desired Future: Take a Park, Not a Pill.
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This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issues such as climate change and pandemics. Examining our worldviews is critical to developing a deeper understanding of human beliefs and relationships with natural landscapes. Moreover, empirically based theories and models can be useful in enhancing that understanding, but other realities are also important such as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and a rekindling of a sense of connection with nature. Whether empirically derived in recent decades or handed down through the generations, this knowledge can be useful as we consider the many forms of human well-being, including physical, mental, spiritual, and social.