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Indicators of Ecotherapy: Potential Indicators and Metrics of Ecosystem Services Provided as Ecotherapy
Citation:
Summers, Kevin. Indicators of Ecotherapy: Potential Indicators and Metrics of Ecosystem Services Provided as Ecotherapy. EPA/EA Webinar on Ecosystem Services Indicators - Virtual Webinar, Virtual, June 17, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation is part of an EPA - UK Environmental Agency exchange of ideas, Presentation provides ideas regarding the use of indicators of ecotherapy as measures of ecosystems services that could be incorporated into assessments of the environment.
Description:
Natural ecosystems provide important services upon which humans depend. Unfortunately, some people tend to believe that these services are provided by nature for free; therefore, the services have little or no value. One nearly forgotten ecosystem service is ecotherapy – the ability of interaction with nature to enhance healing and growth. While we do not pay for this service, its loss can result in a cost to humans resulting in slower recovery times, greater distress and reduced well-being. Losses in these images of nature can diminish our basic happiness. Little is understood or, at least, appreciated concerning the potential ecotherapy benefits of the natural environment and its ecosystem services. The complex and interactive relationship of ecosystems, their services and human well-being is poorly acknowledged in the broad social, philosophical, psychological and economic well-being literature. This presentation provides several examples of indicators that could be used to characterize ecotherapy, examines the role of nature and its ecosystem services in ecotherapy, and evaluates its associated enhancement of recovery from physical and mental illness.