New Field of Ecological Medicine Emphasizes Health Benefits of Connectedness – UC Davis College of Biological Sciences

Report on Ecological Medicine and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction to a New Health Paradigm

A consensus statement published in the journal Ecohealth has defined Ecological Medicine as a new field in health science. This approach is founded on the principle that profound connections between humans, animals, plants, and the natural world are fundamental to the health and well-being of both people and the planet. The statement was co-authored by researchers from the University of California, Davis, including Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez, Lynette Hart, and Alessandro Ossola, following a collaborative symposium at UCLA.

• The field explicitly integrates Indigenous peoples’ understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world.
• It moves beyond treating illness to proactively fostering health through environmental and social connections, a core tenet of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Ecological Medicine expands upon the One Health concept by incorporating the psychological and social benefits of human-nature interactions, not just the epidemiology of infectious diseases.

2.0 Core Principles and Contribution to Global Goals

Ecological Medicine provides a framework for addressing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reframing environmental assets as critical public health infrastructure.

2.1 Advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The primary focus of Ecological Medicine is to improve human health by leveraging nature-based interventions. This directly supports the targets of SDG 3.

• Peer-reviewed research confirms the health benefits of exposure to natural environments, including fresh air and green spaces.
• Practices such as shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) are scientifically shown to reduce stress.
• Systemic programs, like the British National Health Service’s Green Social Prescribing initiative, utilize nature-based activities to enhance mental and physical health outcomes.

2.2 Supporting SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The field advocates for the integration of natural systems into urban planning to create healthier and more resilient communities, aligning with the objectives of SDG 11.

• Urban landscapes, including parks and tree canopies, are positioned as essential public health assets, comparable to hospitals and pharmacies.
• Research from the UC Davis Urban Science Lab demonstrates the tangible benefits of urban greening, such as measuring the cooling effects of tree shade on elementary school playgrounds.
• Promoting a connection to nature within cities contributes to creating inclusive, safe, and sustainable human settlements.

2.3 Upholding SDG 15: Life on Land

By emphasizing the interdependence of human health and ecosystem health, Ecological Medicine inherently supports the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems as outlined in SDG 15.

• The approach recognizes that human well-being is contingent upon healthy, biodiverse environments.
• Initiatives like the UC Davis Sheepmowers project serve as a model for sustainable land management practices that also provide mental health co-benefits to the community.
• The field encourages a shift in perspective from resource extraction to reciprocal, health-promoting relationships with the natural world.

3.0 Key Research and Institutional Leadership

The University of California, Davis is positioned as a leader in this emerging field, leveraging its interdisciplinary strengths in environmental science, medicine, and sustainability.

1. The Green Care Lab: Led by Associate Professor Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez, this lab has shifted its research focus from documenting the effects of stress to studying the mechanisms of nature-based healing.
2. The Urban Science Lab: Directed by Associate Professor Alessandro Ossola, this lab investigates the interactions between people, plants, and the built environment to inform public health and urban planning.
3. Human-Animal Interaction Studies: Decades of research by Professor Emeritus Lynette Hart have established the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship, a key component of the wider ecological perspective.

These initiatives demonstrate a practical application of Ecological Medicine’s principles, providing a scientific basis for policies that can simultaneously advance public health and environmental sustainability goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Ecological Medicine connects to several Sustainable Development Goals by emphasizing the intrinsic link between human health, the environment, and community well-being. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire concept of “Ecological Medicine” is about a new approach to “foster health and well-being for people.” It discusses mental and physical health benefits derived from nature, such as stress reduction through “forest bathing” and nature-based activities supported by the “Green Social Prescribing” program. The goal is described as a “new kind of medicine that fosters health rather than chasing diseases.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the importance of natural environments within urban settings. It mentions how “urban landscapes should be seen as public health assets” and discusses research on the “amount of shade, including tree canopy, at elementary schools.” This directly relates to creating sustainable, healthy, and inclusive urban spaces. The UC Davis Arboretum is cited as an example of a natural environment serving the community within a campus setting.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The core principle of Ecological Medicine is the connection between humans and the natural world, including “animals and plants.” It expands on the One Health concept, which links human, animal, and environmental health. The article’s focus on “forest bathing,” the benefits of trees, and human-animal connections (like the UC Davis Sheepmowers) underscores the importance of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems for human well-being.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article describes the formation of the field of Ecological Medicine as a collaborative effort. It details a symposium and workshop that brought together academics from different universities (UCLA, UC Davis, Yale) and diverse fields (Neurobiology, Veterinary Medicine, Plant Sciences, Psychiatry). This multi-stakeholder partnership led to a “consensus statement defining the field,” demonstrating the type of collaboration needed to advance sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

  The article directly supports this target by focusing on proactive health measures. It states that practices like “forest bathing” have been “shown to decrease stress” and that the UK’s “Green Social Prescribing” program uses nature-based activities to “improve mental and physical health.” The UC Davis Sheepmowers project is explicitly “surveying mental health impacts for students,” linking directly to the promotion of mental well-being.

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces

  The article advocates for urban landscapes to be treated as “public health assets.” The research mentioned, which “measured the amount of shade, including tree canopy, at elementary schools,” is an effort to improve public spaces for children’s health. The UC Davis Arboretum is presented as a model, providing a “calm, natural environment” that is accessible to the entire community, aligning with the goal of providing access to green spaces.

• Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts

  The article’s argument for Ecological Medicine is a call to integrate the value of ecosystems into health science and public policy. By framing urban green spaces as “public health assets just like emergency rooms or pharmacies,” it advocates for including environmental considerations in urban and health planning. The integration of “Indigenous peoples’ understanding of how humans belong to and relate with the natural world” also aligns with incorporating diverse ecosystem values into planning.

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

  The article provides a clear example of this target in action. The development of the Ecological Medicine consensus statement grew out of a “symposium and workshop at UCLA” that brought together faculty from multiple universities and departments. This collaboration is described as a “diverse” community with “open conversations,” epitomizing the multi-stakeholder partnerships that are essential for addressing complex challenges like sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Indicators for Target 3.4 (Mental Health and Well-being)

  • Stress Levels: The article mentions that “forest bathing” has been “shown to decrease stress.” One of the researchers, Calisi Rodríguez, began her career studying “stress hormones.” This implies that physiological measures, such as cortisol levels, can be used as an indicator of well-being.
  • Surveys on Mental Health: The UC Davis Sheepmowers project is explicitly “surveying mental health impacts for students.” This points to the use of self-reported well-being surveys as a direct indicator to measure the mental health benefits of nature-based interventions.

• Indicators for Target 11.7 (Access to Green Spaces)

  • Tree Canopy Cover: The research by the Urban Science Lab, which “measured the amount of shade, including tree canopy, at elementary schools,” provides a direct, quantifiable indicator for the quality and availability of green public spaces.
  • Temperature Reduction: The same research examined the “effect on temperatures on school playgrounds.” The measurement of ambient temperature reduction in urban areas due to green infrastructure can serve as an indicator of the effectiveness of these spaces.

• Indicators for Target 15.9 (Ecosystem Integration)

  • Ecological Impact Assessments: The Sheepmowers project is surveying “ecological and operational impacts for the campus.” This implies the use of ecological assessments (e.g., soil health, biodiversity counts) as indicators of how well ecosystem values are being managed and integrated into local planning.
  • Adoption of Nature-Based Programs: The mention of established programs like the UK’s “Green Social Prescribing” suggests that the number and scale of such programs adopted by public health systems can be an indicator of the integration of ecosystem values into health policy.

• Indicators for Target 17.17 (Partnerships)

  • Number of Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Publications: The article itself, which describes a “consensus statement” co-authored by researchers from different fields and institutions, serves as an example. The number of such multi-stakeholder research initiatives and joint publications can be a key indicator of effective partnerships.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ucdavis.edu