Biodiversity and Human Health: A Scoping Review and Case Studies on Underrepresented Linkages

Abstract

Mounting evidence supports the connections between exposure to environment types––such as green spaces and biodiversity––and human health. However, the mechanistic links that connect biodiversity (the variety of life) and human health, plus the level of supporting evidence, are less clear. Here, we undertook a scoping review to map the links between biodiversity and human health and summarise the levels of associated evidence using an established weight of evidence framework. Distinct from other reviews, we provide additional context regarding the environment-microbiome-health axis, evaluate the environmental buffering pathway (e.g., biodiversity impacts on air pollution), and draw upon expert opinion to provide case studies on three underrepresented linkages. The case studies include (1) biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ health, (2) biodiversity and urban social equity, and (3) biodiversity and COVID-19. We observed a moderate level of evidence to support the environmental microbiota-human health pathway and a moderate-high level of evidence to support broader nature pathways (e.g., green space) to various health outcomes, from stress reduction to enhanced wellbeing and improved social cohesion. However, studies of broader nature pathways did not typically include specific biodiversity metrics, indicating clear research gaps. Further research is required to understand the connections and causative pathways between biodiversity (e.g., using metrics such as taxonomy, diversity/richness, structure, and function) and health outcomes. There are well-established frameworks to assess the effects of broad classifications of nature on human health. These can assist future research in linking biodiversity metrics to human health outcomes. Our case studies on underrepresented linkages highlight the roles of biodiversity and its loss on urban lived experiences, infectious diseases, and Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and livelihoods. More research and awareness of these socioecological interconnections are needed.

Short-term passive greenspace exposures have little effect on nasal microbiomes: a cross-over exposure study of a Māori cohort

“…Disconnection from natural environments is a characteristic of urban lifestyles and one which is associated with poorer health outcomes (1, 2). For Indigenous Peoples, whose identity, culture, and health are intertwined with the natural environment (3, 4), the disconnection from ancestral lands and natural environments generally, is particularly concerning.…”

“…We utilised a cross-over study design to control for effects of group and day, with two exposure days in one location (Days 1 and 3), followed by a two-day washout period, then two further exposure days in the other location (Days 6 and 8). To understand the influences of exposures on the nasal microbiomes, we examined the effects of location, individual, group, single exposures, and repeated exposures on (1) the nasal bacterial alpha diversity, (2) nasal bacterial community composition, and (3) specific bacterial taxonomic groups with known health associations (Gammproteobacterial diversity and butyrate-producing bacterial abundances).…”

Integrating indigenous knowledge and culture in sustainable forest management via global environmental policies

“…https://doi.org/10.17221/20/2024-JFS Forests are significant ecosystems that provide countless benefits and essential resources to support biodiversity (Kok et al 2017;Verkerk et al 2022;Guegan et al 2023) and help in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. They also enable the interplay between biodiversity and the health of indigenous peoples (Robinson et al 2024). Studies show that a substantial portion of the Earth's terrestrials is made up of forests and that they contribute to global ecological balance and human well-being all over the Earth (Boles Fassler 2017; Soe, Yeo-Chang 2019; Cimatti et al 2023;Dong, Huang 2023).…”