Biodiversity and health : a knowledge synthesis and analysis of the complex connections between biodiversity and health highlighting the relevant EU policies projects and initiatives

Biodiversity and health are inextricably connected, directly as well as indirectly. Nature and biodiversity directly enhance health and wellbeing by improving the quality of our air, water and soil, and providing indispensable medicines, food and nutrients. Anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change such as pollution, agricultural intensification and climate change affect both biodiversity and health, and are in turn aggravated by the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The connections are complex and involve many feedback loops, calling for reinforced attention from many policy domains as part of a systemic approach. In this report we chart out these connections and the relevant policy domains, as well as the corresponding EU policies, projects and initiatives. The main aim is to improve awareness on the strong, complex and manifold connections between nature conservation and human health with a view to enhancing win-win solutions in policymaking.