Realizing the Health Benefits of Green Spaces in a Changing World EcoHealth Workshop March 24, 2015 Burkhard Mausberg CEO, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation

The Impact of the Built Environment on Health 3 The Health Impacts of Sprawl report by Ontario College of Family Physicians, Jan Scientific Evidence Base Comprehensive Assessment Supported the Case for Action

SprawlTraffic Congestion SmogHealth Issues Connecting Sprawl and Health Issues

The Health Impacts of Urban Sprawl: Air Pollution 5 More urban sprawl, more driving, more smog: Smog is linked to: -Respiratory conditions -Cardiovascular disease -Lung cancer -Delayed lung development -Negative effects on pregnancy -Birth defects “In 2005, the OMA estimated that over 5,800 people would die prematurely because of air pollution”

Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Cancers, Osteoarthritis Each hour per day spent in a car increases the likelihood of becoming obese by 6% Each kilometer walked per day reduces the likelihood of becoming obese by nearly 5% 6 The Health Impacts of Urban Sprawl: Obesity More urban sprawl, less physical activity, and more obesity leads to:

The Health Impacts of Sprawl: Social and Mental Health 7 More time driving, less time for friends, family and recreation Increased experience of isolation and decline in a sense of community Less time for children to experience privacy, tranquility, safety and community Increased stress of commuting Increased exposure to the trauma of witnessing and being involved in traffic collisions Sprawled development contributes to:

The Greenbelt Plan Vision Permanently protect: Prime agricultural land Natural heritage and water resource systems Provide for a diverse range of economic and social activities associated with rural communities, agriculture, tourism, recreation and resource uses 8

What the Greenbelt Has Achieved 9

Greenbelt Plan: Health Benefits Helped contain sprawl Prevented a lot of car miles Protected farmland and has been a catalyst for the local food movement Regulation of air and water quality; Climate change mitigation Over ½ million acres of Natural Heritage Systems Active recreation: 480km Cycle route, sign-posted walks and trails Sustainable and fulfilling employment for 161,000 people 10

11 Provincial Coordinated Review 14 “Town Hall” public meetings across the GGH based on a Discussion Document with questions relating to the four Plans Online platform for the public to answer Discussion Document questions Submissions accepted to MAH and through the EBR Please get involved and advocate for the value of the Greenbelt spxhttp:// spx

Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation & EcoHealth Ontario Partnership EcoHealth Ontario –Literature reviews exploring the health benefits of green spaces –Multi-sector collaborative Convergence with Friends of Greenbelt Foundation: –Shared interest in understanding roles of green spaces in urban, suburban and rural areas –Shared interest in facilitating healthy communities, especially in the face of climate change 2015 is timely: –10 th anniversary of Greenbelt Plan –Reviews of Provincial legislation, including Greenbelt Act 12

Valuing Urban and Rural Green Spaces Focus of this workshop is to explore the health benefits of green spaces in a changing world The Greenbelt is a crucial complement to the urban green spaces Without it, the impacts of environmental degradation would be much more pronounced in urban centres Expanding the Greenbelt into urban river valleys where it will become part of the urban green space system 13

Workshop Objectives Bring greater profile and awareness to the strong links between healthy natural environments, access to natural spaces, and the health and well-being of communities Share information about health benefits of natural spaces Identify challenges and needs in fields of public health, medicine, planning, parks and environment Encourage policies and programs that promote and enhance the human health benefits of green spaces, such as Ontario’s Greenbelt 14

Thank you. Burkhard Mausberg CEO Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation Greenbelt Fund