Forests, Trees and Human Health [Paperback]

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 Unions 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.

This groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Unions COST Action E39 Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing. It explores the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular.

Preface1 Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: IntroductionKjell Nilsson, Marcus Sangster, Cecil C. KonijnendijkPart I, Forest Products and Environmental Services2 Urban forests and their ecosystem services in relation to human healthGiovanni Sanesi, Christos Gallis and Hans Dieter Kasperidus3 Forest Products with Health-Promoting and Medicinal PropertiesChristos Gallis, Mariella Di Stefano, Paraskevi Moutsatsou, Tytti Sarjala, Vesa Virtanen, Bjarne Holmbom, Joseph A. Buhagiar, and Alexandros Katalanos4 Negative aspects and hazardous effects of forest environment on human healthMarek Tomalak, Elio Rossi, Francesco Ferrini, and Paola A. MoroPart II, Physical and Mental Health and the Experience of Nature5 Health benefits of nature experience: Psycholol“µ