thomas classen
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Nature ConservationNature Conservation and and Preventative Health Preventative Health ProtectionProtection in Germany – a strong Partnership? in Germany – a strong Partnership?
Identification of common fields of action Identification of common fields of action in the context of recent paradigmatic changesin the context of recent paradigmatic changes
Dr. Thomas Claßen (Dipl.-Geogr.)Dr. Thomas Claßen (Dipl.-Geogr.)
Bielefeld School of Public Health, Dept. 7 Environment & HealthBielefeld School of Public Health, Dept. 7 Environment & Health
Naturally betterNaturally better – how protected landscapes – how protected landscapes can help deliver can help deliver health and wellbeing outcomeshealth and wellbeing outcomes
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section, 26 March 2009, Wallingford / UKSpring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section, 26 March 2009, Wallingford / UK
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 2 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Assumptions about the human-nature-relationship
► People perceive their environment consciously and unconsciously, and it has great influence on human physical and mental health
► Nature in a wider sense has positive effects on human well-being
► People are sensitized to the requirements of protecting our natural resources (e.g. biodiversity)
► Due to alienation, some people develop very curious ways of how to experience nature
„Back to nature“ ?Cartoon in a German psychological journal (April 2003)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 3 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Opinion of a “mountain romantic”?:
„Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going
home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and
irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”
John Muir (originator of the national park idea, 19th century)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 4 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Assumptions regarding nature conservation
► Measures of (health-oriented) environmental protection nowadays are of great acceptance throughout the German society.
► Concrete measures of nature conservation, however, often still face lack of acceptance.
► For 20 years, there has been a strategic and conceptional paradigmatic change from bioecologic-ethical to „modern“ understanding of nature conservation as a societal approach for human health & wellbeing, too.
► In this respect, nature conservation is looking for strategic alliances.
► Could linkage to health and wellbeing (as a positive topic for society) contribute to image promotion and better acceptance of nature conservation?
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 5 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
What is Health?
Health:
“...is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (WHO, 1946)
or:
„… is a status of balance between risk factors and protecting factors (resources), which happens if a human being succeeds in managing the interior (physical and mental) as well as the exterior (social and material) requirements.“
(Hurrelmann & Franzkowiak, 2006: 52, translated from German)
Salutogenetic Principle: a resource-oriented and preventive model identifying health-promoting determinants (resources and competencies) for human life (Antonovsky 1987)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 6 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Assumptions regarding the health sector
► Health sector in general nowadays faces severe challenges due to:- newly identified health risks- demographic change- rapidly increasing costs in health care
► Public Health sector opens up to other disciplines, including environment and natural resources sciences (e.g. Environment and Health Action Programme)
► But what about nature & health?
► Problem in German public health sector: pathogenetic perspective vs. salutogenetic perspective
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 7 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Preventative
Health Protection
Health (promotion) Disease (prevention)
Model of Preventative Health Protection
Environment and Nature as potential health risk
-nature sciences / medical model
describing health and disease status
Environment and Nature as health resource
-Sociologic / Public Health model
describing health status
environmental medicine& environmental hygiene,
health protection-
aim: prevent/reduce health risks from environment and nature
ecological health promotion, environmental management
-aim: promote health by use of environment and nature
Salutogenetic perspective Pathogenetic perspective
Resou
rce
Resou
rce
ssB
urd
en
Bu
rden
Function ofFunction ofNature ConservationNature Conservation??
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 8 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
While searching for synergies and obstacles …
…in 2004, a pilot study was initiated by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
objectives:► Are there any (potential) fields of action between nature
conservation and preventive health protection?
► If so, are they realized and used synergistically, or do links occur by accident?
► Are there any horizontal or vertical communication barriers? If so, what are the reasons for these obstacles?
► What are the opportunities for initiating better co-operation between both topics, if this co-operation makes sense?
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 9 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
► Synopsis of basic considerations and scientific concepts at the interface between nature conservation and health
► Assumptions regarding the perception of nature (conservation) and health in the public
► Conducting an inquiry of identified opinion leaders and stakeholders (experts) standardized survey (254 Pers./institutions) semi-structured expert interviews (20 Pers.)
► Statistical analyses (quantitative) and (semi-)qualitative analyses
► Identification of projects, programmes, strategies of good practice
► Identification and analysis of strengths and weaknesses of previous strategies and concepts
► Highlighting recommendations
Approach of the pilot study
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 10 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
► Information on the addressee
► Questions about the complex ofhealth
► Questions about the complex of nature conservation
► Questions about potential links
► Information on the person
► Notes on the questionnaire
► Inquiry: 12/04 – 02/05 response: N=158 (62,2%)
► Interviews: 02/05 – 04/05(N=18)
Postal inquiry
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 11 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Sector of work
Health
Nature/environment protection
City and regional development
Enviroment and Health
Municipal administration
Total
professional co-operation with institutions or associations of ...
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yes no
Health sector
n=44
n=54
n=21
n=23
n=16
n=158
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yes no
Nature conservation sector
n=44
n=54
n=21
n=23
n=16
n=158
Connections to institutions, federations, associations etc.
Sector of work
Health
Nature/environment protection
City and regional development
Enviroment and Health
Municipal administration
Total
private contact with institutions or associations of ...
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yes no
Health sector
n=44
n=54
n=21
n=23
n=16
n=158
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yes no
Nature conservation sector
n=44
n=54
n=21
n=23
n=16
n=158
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 12 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Sector of work
Health
Nature/environment protection
City and regional development
Environment and Health
Municipal administration
Total
collaboration in programmes or projects of ...
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yesyes, for conceptionsyes, but only in chargeyes, for conceptions & in chargeno
health sector
n=38
n=53
n=21
n=22
n=15
n=149
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
yesyes, for conceptionsyes, but only in chargeyes, for conceptions & in chargeno
nature conservation sector
n=38
n=53
n=21
n=22
n=16
n=150
Collaboration in programmes or projects
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 13 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Points of contact with the EHAP or the (local) Agenda 21
„Agenda 21 is of interest for sure, since Agenda 21 has its own chapter on health. […] nevertheless where I work […] and in most parts of environmental protection, Agenda 21 is always discussed without this health aspect. It‘s sort of excluded in the discussion on sustainability.“ (UG5, question 5 I, answered in question 3 I)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 14 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Perception about dialogue structures and (organisational) learning culture
1,4
13,2
24,3
22,2
4,2
34,7
0,7
11,7
27,6
17,9
4,1
37,9
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
very good good satisfying poor very poor unknown
Sh
are
of
resp
on
den
ts
Appraisal of the dialogue between disciplines in interdisciplinary projects (N=144)
Charateristic of the actors learning culture on the other disciplines (N=145)
Exchange, networking, dialogue structures
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 15 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Hiding behind responsibilities?
‚They do not affect us, and in this respect I do not know them.‘ (G 5, question 3/4 I)
Another example:
‚With respect to nature conservation […] there is no organisational opinion.‘ (G 3, question 2 I)
But when asked to the own opinion:
‚We badly need health promoting environmental and living-conditions. I need health-oriented prevention of bad conditions for giving everybody the opportunity to promote his own health. An in
this respect, without any doubt there is a strong link between nature conservation and health protection.‘ (G 3, question 5 I)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 16 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Opportunities for co-operation?
‚There are topics, […] where nature conservation for sure takes profit from being one prerequisite for human health, and where
on the other hand preventive health protection can take profit of the fact that it easily realized in a more or less natural
environment. In this respect health sector should be interested in certain measures of nature conservation [...] when aiming at
keeping us healthy.’ (G 7, question 11/12 I)
‚The topic has not been communicated inside the federations yet because the linkages are not clear at all to them. Nature
conservation, environment protection, health, these are totally divided worlds by now.‘ (NU3; question 6 I)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 17 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
obstacles and barriers
‚Each ministry, each federal agency faces this compulsion for justificating the own work […]. It is always of high importance to present oneself in front of the minister, the boss and especially the public as the one and only ministry or agency doing really
positive things. This fact often hinders co-operation.‘ (UG5, question 6 I)
‚The personal factor is a fact. […] If you face a blocking person in the ‚right‘ position, the whole topic is dead, no matter about
other surrounding circumstances. And if you face someone who is willing to co-operate, then this person will manage, no matter
about other surrounding circumstances.“ (UG5, question 6 I)
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 18 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Actors network: communication barriersAkteursnetzwerk: Kommunikationsbarrieren
G1UG1
G6
G5
G4
G3
G2UG3
UG2
NU1
UG5
UG6
G7
NU2
NU5
NU4
NU3
UG4
Vorbehalte
Konkurrenz
vertikaleBarriere
Konkurrenz
Konkurrenz
guteKooperation
Kooperation
guteKooperation
sehr guteKooperation
persönl.Vorbehaltegute
Kooperation
Kooperation
guteKooperation
guteKooperation
sehr guteKooperation
Kooperation
Kooperation
guteKooperation
guteKooperation
Kooperation
Kooperation
starkeKonkurrenz
Kooperation
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 19 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Potential subjects and fields for action I
► Protection of Drinking-water- and spa-wells and nature conservation
► Sustainable use of medicinal plants and other alternative methods
► Promotion of urban green as a health-promoting resource, environm. justice
► Healthy nutrition and sustainable food production,
► Cure and wellness focusing on outdoor-activities (e.g. outdoor-wellness)
► Physical activity in nature as a task of health promotion
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 20 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Potential subjects and fields for action II
► Complementary medicine and Kneipp therapies
► Territories for nature experience, health promotion and therapies
► Large-scale nature preserves as spaces for health precaution
► Public relations and environmental education
► Therapeutic / health promoting Landscapes…
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 21 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Conclusion of the pilot study
► There are definitely numerous fields of action between nature conservation and preventive health protection!
► Perception of the people occurs unconsciously when thinking about nutrition, the „good from nature“, stress relaxation in nature etc.
► Persistent opinion of some experts in nature conservation that it is an ethically reasonable duty or that it is not strong enough for being perceived as a good partner
► Clear communication barriers due to divided responsibilities and often even the need of profiling the own ministry or department (creatorship?)
► Substantial lack of co-operation and communication between the disciplines in science, politics and planning
► Willingness or careful expectation of the experts, in particular of those from interdisciplinary fields or on a regional level
► What can be done?
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 22 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Follow-up study (2006-2008)
3 German nature parks involved
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 23 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
High relevance in the media
press releases
newspaper articles
interviews
Project presentations
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 24 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Project no. III: internetbased portal
Non-experts
•Interested public
•Children
Experts
•Actors in nature conservation & tourism
•Actors in health sector
Information system „Nature Conservation and Health“
overview and detailed texts (incl. references)
literature databaseproject database
glossaryweb-GIS
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 25 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Conclusion
► Financial and personnel resources are more limited than ever!
► Both topics are in need of strategic partners for meeting their goals!
objectives:
► Horizontal and vertical integration of strategies and concepts of nature conservation and preventative health protection
► Reduction of the immanent deficit of information by improved target group communication
► Reduction of situations with rivalry or conflicts
► Reduction of thinking only in responsibilities and competencies
► Remember: „Sustainable Development is Healthy Development!“
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 26 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
These projects were granted by the These projects were granted by the German Federal German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, financed by the Agency for Nature Conservation, financed by the
German Federal German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Conservation
and Nuclear Safetyand Nuclear Safety
project I & II were carried out by the project I & II were carried out by the
Institute for Hygiene and Public HealthInstitute for Hygiene and Public Health
of the University of Bonnof the University of Bonn
Thank you very much for your attention!
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 27 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Interested in the topic???
The project documentation (in German) has been published:
Claßen, Kistemann & Schillhorn (2005): Naturschutz und Gesundheitsschutz:
Identifikation gemeinsamer Handlungsfelder. Bonn – Bad Godesberg
(= Schriftenreihe „Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt“, H. 23)
228 pages ISBN: 3-7843-3923-9 Price: 16,- €
My dissertation (in German)
may be downloaded:
Claßen, T. (2008): Naturschutz und vorsorgender
Gesundheitsschutz: Synergie oder Konkurrenz? Bonn.
http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online/math_nat_fak/
2008/classen_thomas
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 28 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
► Synopsis of basic considerations and scientific concepts at the interface between nature conservation and health
► Assumptions regarding the perception of nature (conservation) and health in the public
► Conducting an inquiry of identified opinion leaders and stakeholders (experts) standardized survey (254 Pers./institutions) semi-structured expert interviews (20 Pers.)
► Statistical analyses (quantitative) and (semi-)qualitative analyses
► Identification of projects, programmes, strategies of good practice
► Identification and analysis of strengths and weaknesses of previous strategies and concepts
► Highlighting recommendations
Approach of the pilot study
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 29 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Scientific linkages between nature (conservation) & health
► from nature- and perception psychology(e.g. Biophilia vs. Biophobia, Attention-Restoration-Theory)
► links to nature in medicine and public health science(e.g. complementary medicine, Kneippian techings, Healing Gardens, health determinants concept)
► ecosystem science and health(e.g. ecosystem health vs. conservation medicine, research on biodiversity and on climate effects)
► environment-oriented health protection and ecological health promotion(e.g. importance of urban green, integral water body management)
► recreation, nature experience and physical activity
► nature- and health-oriented regional development(e.g. role of large-scale nature preserves, healthy regions)
► therapeutic health enhancing landscapes
NaturschutzNaturschutz
Vorsorgender GesundheitsschutzVorsorgender Gesundheitsschutz
Biophilieversus
Biophobie
Wildnis-therapien
HealingGardens
Eden Alternativenursery
HorticulturalTherapy
Ökologisierung vs.Medikalisierung
MAB-Programm(Biosphärenreservate)
Nachhaltige Stadt-und Regionalentwicklung
Natur- und Wahr-nehmungspsychologie
(Lokale) AGENDA 21
AktionsprogrammUmwelt u. Gesundheit
EnvironmentalHealth
Komplementär-medizin
Gesunde Städteu. Regionen
Therapeutische & präventive Landschaften
Natur-erlebnis
Natur-heilkunde
Kneipp‘scheLehren
Well-ness
GesundheitlichePrävention
Natur-sport
NaturbezogeneErholung
Gesundheits-Tourismus
Epidemiologie Umwelthygiene
SozialeStadt
Ökosystem-forschung
Trauma-therapien
ÖkologischeGesundheitsförderung
ConservationMedicine
UmweltbezogenerGesundheitsschutz
EcoHealth
TraditionelleMedizin
Naturparke
National-parke
Stadtgrün
Humanökologie
Slow City
Environmental Burden of Disease
GesundeErnährung
NaturschutzNaturschutz
Vorsorgender GesundheitsschutzVorsorgender Gesundheitsschutz
Biophilieversus
Biophobie
Wildnis-therapien
HealingGardens
Eden Alternativenursery
HorticulturalTherapy
Ökologisierung vs.Medikalisierung
MAB-Programm(Biosphärenreservate)
Nachhaltige Stadt-und Regionalentwicklung
Natur- und Wahr-nehmungspsychologie
(Lokale) AGENDA 21
AktionsprogrammUmwelt u. Gesundheit
EnvironmentalHealth
Komplementär-medizin
Gesunde Städteu. Regionen
Therapeutische & präventive Landschaften
Therapeutische & präventive Landschaften
Natur-erlebnis
Natur-heilkunde
Kneipp‘scheLehren
Well-ness
GesundheitlichePrävention
Natur-sport
NaturbezogeneErholung
Gesundheits-Tourismus
Epidemiologie Umwelthygiene
SozialeStadt
Ökosystem-forschung
Trauma-therapien
ÖkologischeGesundheitsförderung
ConservationMedicine
UmweltbezogenerGesundheitsschutz
EcoHealth
TraditionelleMedizin
Naturparke
National-parke
Stadtgrün
Humanökologie
Slow City
Environmental Burden of Disease
GesundeErnährung
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 30 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Development of therapeutic or preventative landscapes
► Ideal with above-average density of:
► Landscape elements that enhance the mental well-being,
► Specific health care facilities,
► Comprehensive offers for nature experience and health promotion,
► Graded lodging facilities,
► Spiritual centres,
► Spas and certificated locations for recreation,
► Barrier-free offers,
► and measurable success in sustainable regional development, in particular in the field of integrated planning procedures
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 31 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Relationship between nature conservation and health protection
Apparent synergies
Health because of nature
► Biodiversity, nature- and phytomedicine for pharmaceutical uses
► Nature products as anti-allergics
► Orientation by nature as protection against natural hazards
► Nature for mental health, recreation, sports, therapies, health protection
► Organic farming as means of consumer protection (e.g. Drinking-water)
Farm „Canitz“ of Leipzig Waterworks
Spring Seminar of the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles Section Slide 32 of 26University of Bielefeld
Nature Conservation & Preventative Health Protection
Apparent disturbances or rivalry
Health risks due to nature
► Allergies from natural products
► Disruption of well-being and health risks due to nature conservation
But on the other side:
► „Health delusion“ causing disruption of sensitive parts of nature
► Exploitation of natural genetic resourcesInternational Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
(ISSC-MAP)
Relationship between nature conservation and health protection