Natural Environments and Human Health (eBook)

This book is a significant contribution to our understanding regarding the depth of human's connection with the natural environment and its effect to human health. The knowledge reviewed in this book may provide professionals from various fields with the conceptual foundation to develop interventions, frameworks and policies that enhance human connection with the natural environment for the well - being, and healthy future of both.

The authors explore the interaction between human health and natural environments, what people do (both collectively and individually) in natural settings, and how
these interactions can affect their health and well-being.
The book has 10 well-referenced chapters, all written by the editorial team, with citations of their own original work. Alan Ewert and Denise Mitten have considerable expertise in the field of outdoor adventure and recreation and have published extensively on the topic. After an initial overview and a useful glossary of key terms, the authors take a holistic approach to the topic with reference to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Several chapters provide practical guidelines to achieving well-being, whereas others provide a more historical and anthropological perspective. Chapter 3 is a historical overview of the connection between human health and natural environments and explains how this connection has evolved from early indigenous concepts of health to the advent of modern medicine and therapy.
Although this and several other chapters refer to culture and spiritual beliefs, the authors tend to represent collective perspectives that predominantly reflect the urban public of the developed world; there is less reference to rural communities that rely predominantly on the land for their survival. In chapter 8, the authors explore human connectedness to the natural environment and discuss the role of education in developing a closer connection to nature and building a broader environmental conscience.
There is some overlap and repetition among chapters, but each one is well crafted to reflect the aims and objectives stated in the introduction. The concluding chapter is a good synthesis of key concepts and suggests that readers "take a park, not a pill" to ensure enhanced health and wellness.
Throughout the book, authors champion the idea that we need to work together to develop a better sense of environmental stewardship. This book should be of interest to students of social anthropology and outdoor education.