Human Behavior, the Environment, and Health

Human Behavior, the Environment, and Health Ecosystem services: The conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life. (Daily, 1997) Services are the benefits that people receive from ecosystems. (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005) Final ecosystem services are components of nature, directly enjoyed, consumed, or used to yield human well being. (Boyd et al. 2007)

Ecosystem services (MEA 2005) Provisioning Goods produced or provided by ecosystems Food Crops Livestock Capture Fisheries Aquaculture Wild Foods Fiber Timber Cotton, hemp, silk Wood Fuel Genetic resources Biochemicals Freshwater Regulating Benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes Air Quality Regulation Climate Regulation Global (CO2 sequestration) Regional and local Erosion regulation Water purification Disease regulation Pest regulation Pollination Natural Hazard regulation Cultural Non-material benefits from ecosystems Spiritual and Religious Values Knowledge Systems Educational values Inspiration Aesthetic Values Social Relations Sense of Place Recreation and Ecotourism These include provisioning services such as food, water, timber, and fiber; regulating services that affect climate, floods, disease, wastes, and water quality; cultural services that provide recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits; and supporting services such as soil formation, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling. The human species, while buffered against environmental changes by culture and technology, is fundamentally dependent on the flow of ecosystem services. Original version of this slide was prepared by Karen Bennett, WRI. There are other means to categorize the services/benefits to people: function, scale, directional…

Education programs Land cover change Climate change Forest Cover Hydrology Mild winter Knowledge Risk/Serious Precipitation Precipitation Urbanization/ Infrastructure Birds reproduce earlier Nutrient input Social Structure # Containers & landscape # all breeding sites Birds mature earlier Behavior HH: Maintenance Quality of breeding sites Temperature Availability of birds Behavior: Exposure Mosquito abundance Mosquito bite preference for people # of bites on people Clustering of birds and mosquitoes # of infectious bites on people WNV prevalence in mosquitoes Age Overall health WNV prevalence in birds Susceptibility WNV cases

Human risk and behavior varies by socioeconomic factors Transmission Risk Behavior: Yard maintenance Behavior: Personal The most susceptible groups: Are the most concerned Take the most household actions to reduce habitat Take the most behavioral precautions

The environment, recreation, and human health Personal development and growth Self-esteem, creativity, skill development Mental health Stress reduction, reduced depression Physiological Cardiovascular, obesity reduction

Obesity reduction and outdoor recreation Alabama has the fourth highest rate of adult obesity in the nation (33%) and the sixth highest rate of overweight youths (ages 10-17 at 36%).

CDC: Engaging Communities to Reduce & Prevent Obesity in High-Obesity Alabama Counties Three pronged approach: 1. Provide education and promotional support to environmental approaches 2. Implement evidence-based strategies to increase access and consumption of healthy food and beverages 3. Implement evidence-based strategies to increase opportunities for physical activity

Implement evidence-based strategies to increase opportunities for physical activity Municipal assessment in 14 communities Access to parks and trails Safe routes to school School facilities and availability School physical education programming Focus Groups Assessment of barriers and opportunities Years 2 & 3 Implementation