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What is Biophilic Public Health?
Biophilic Public Health recognises the innate human affinity (or our inborn 'love, awe and respect') for nature – and with a vision of "Health for All" focuses on Public Health practice and approaches that benefit the health of people, other species and ecosystems. This perspective also emphasises the connection between the health of nature and the physical and mental wellbeing of people, highlighting our need to experience a thriving and healthy natural world in our daily lives.
- Neil de Wet
Public Health has been defined as the ‘science and art’ of preventing disease and improving the health of whole populations through the organised efforts of society. The practice of Public Health aims to create, foster and positively influence the social, economic and environmental conditions that prevent disease and improve people’s health and wellbeing.
Have we reached peak human health? On average, we are healthier and living longer than ever before in human history. However, this has come with substantial ecological debt in terms of biodiversity loss; land, soil and water degradation; and disruption of the climate system – while chronic diseases, inequalities in quality of life, inequalities in health experience and outcomes, as well as the re-emergence of infectious disease increasingly characterise public health concerns. Therefore, there is a need to extend and transform the principles and scope of Public Health practice to enable a ‘Health for All’ approach, where the ‘All’ is inclusive of not only the health of all people, but also the health and flourishing of other species and ecosystems.
Drawing on the concepts and ideas of biophilic theory, biophilic design and biophilic cities, an evolution in public health thinking is described that is defined by our innate ‘love, awe and respect’ for nature. This recognises that for our physical and mental health and wellbeing we need the natural world to be thriving and healthy, and we need to interact with and experience healthy thriving nature in our daily lives.
Recognising the centrality of our relationship with nature for our own health and well-being, while also respecting the intrinsic value and worth of other species, a Biophilic Public Health approach aims to create, foster and positively influence the conditions that allow the health of people, other species and ecosystems to thrive.
"At its heart, biophilic thinking is about the centrality of our emotional connections with nature to our health and well-being. It is about how valuing, appreciating and experiencing nature, plants, animals, ecosystems, natural landforms, natural elements and beauty, enriches and nourishes our lives. Perhaps most importantly, it is an idea and language that helps rediscover, redefine and transform our perception of nature where our relationship and interactions with the natural world become characterised by words such as ‘love and respect’, ‘nurture and care’, ‘wonder and awe’, ‘curiosity’, ‘reverence’, ‘exploration and mystery’ and ‘humility’ rather than ‘the environment’, ‘natural resources’ and ‘natural capital’. Therefore, biophilic public health would be defined by the love, awe and respect for nature – and ‘all things living’."
Neil de Wet
