Conserving Nature
Human health relies on a healthy environment. Healthy ecosystems produce fresh water, food, timber, fibre and medicines. They purify our water, clean our air, moderate the climate, provide carbon storage options and regulate floods. Learn more here about the ways we can improve our health, by caring for the environment.
Conserving Nature Articles
World Parks Congress Improving Health and Well-being: Healthy Parks Healthy People stream report
The proceedings of the Improving Health and Well-being: Healthy Parks Healthy People stream at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 have been recorded and compiled in a comprehensive report of each stream session that offers an excellent overview.
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The value of traditional knowledge in managing parks
Historically the rights of indigenous people to use the resources of their traditional lands in national parks have been curtailed with little or no consultation. Instead the focus has been on conservation of areas of scenic or aesthetic value to non-indigenous people and the protection of endangered and vulnerable plant and animal species.
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The economic value of parks for human health
In modern economic times, it seems that everything requires a financial value in order to prove its importance. Parks are no different, with their perceived value vitally linked to cities choosing to maintain open spaces in cities and nations choosing to conserve larger state and national parks.
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Sustainable Development Goals - where are we at?
The concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was created in 2012, at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Sustainable Development, called Rio+20. The SDGs will determine the future development agenda beyond 2015
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World Ranger Day - 31 July
On World Ranger Day - 31 July - we take a moment to give thanks to all those rangers working in our protected areas!
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Conserving Nature Research
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Human health impacts of ecosystem alteration
By Samuel Myers, Lynne Gaffikin, Christopher Golden, Richard Ostfeld, Kent Redford, Taylor Ricketts, Will Turner and Steven OsofskyHuman activity is rapidly transforming most of Earth’s natural systems. How this transformation is impacting human health, whose health is at greatest risk, and the magnitude of the associated disease burden are relatively new subjects within the field of environmental health.
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Healthy Families Healthy Forests
By Conservation InternationalAn overview of Conservation International's Healthy Families Healthy Forests program.
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Shaping a Healthy Parks System For the Climate Change Era: A Past and Future Trajectory For Victoria’s Parks
By Brian Doolan, Manager Parks Strategy, Parks VictoriaThis paper analyses the broad scale environmental, social, and economic changes that will influence park systems in the climate change era.
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Healthy Parks, Healthy People, Healthy Tourism: The ASEAN Healthy Tourism Strategy addressing threats from tourism at Ha Long Bay World Heritage site, Vietnam
By Robyn Bushell and Brent PowisThis paper explores problems associated with the impacts of tourism on the health of people and the environment.
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They’re calling on you – Facilitating behaviour change
By J Gray and R LowryThis paper highlights a campaign model that has been successfully trialled and evaluated across Zoos Victoria since 2005.
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