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Protected Natural Areas: In Sickness and in Health

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa Romanillos

    (Institute of Environmental Sciencies and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
    Hospital of St. Celoni, St. Celoni, 08470 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Roser Maneja

    (Institute of Environmental Sciencies and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Diego Varga

    (Geography Department, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain
    Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain
    CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Llorenç Badiella

    (Servei d’Estadística Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Martí Boada

    (Institute of Environmental Sciencies and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human health, but there are few studies on the role of Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), either from the preventive point of view or on their potential benefits, on individuals with health problems. A study was made of the relationship between the visitation of Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve and health, from the perspective of a population group with different diseases. A total of 250 patients resident in the areas near the park were surveyed, recording their beliefs about the benefits of nature, as well as the reasons for visiting and the activities associated with health that they carried out in the park. The pure air is the most valued benefit (27.2%), particularly for those with allergies. The majority (57%) visit the park for health reasons. High levels (82%) of exercise are recorded, especially by patients with heart diseases (85%), and 65% exercised in the park. More physical activity is mentioned among those that visit the park most often, particularly among those that carried it out for health reasons. Plants were collected for medicinal use by 39.6%. The study confirmed the significant role of the Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve as a health resource for individuals with diseases that live near it. It also corroborates the beneficial effects that the PNA provide in human health.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Romanillos & Roser Maneja & Diego Varga & Llorenç Badiella & Martí Boada, 2018. "Protected Natural Areas: In Sickness and in Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2182-:d:173959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jian Chen & Hong Shi & Xin Wang & Yiduo Zhang & Zihan Zhang, 2022. "Effectiveness of China’s Protected Areas in Mitigating Human Activity Pressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    2. William L. Rice & Sarah Y. Michels & Miranda Foster & Jon Graham & Peter Whitney & Jennifer M. Thomsen, 2023. "Exploring the Impacts of Protected Areas’ Attributes on Pediatric Health: The Case for Additional Research beyond Greenspace," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Carme Miralles-Guasch & Javier Dopico & Xavier Delclòs-Alió & Pablo Knobel & Oriol Marquet & Roser Maneja-Zaragoza & Jasper Schipperijn & Guillem Vich, 2019. "Natural Landscape, Infrastructure, and Health: The Physical Activity Implications of Urban Green Space Composition among the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Qingbin Guo & Kang Luo, 2019. "Concentration of Healthcare Resources in China: The Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Its Spatial Drivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Qingbin Guo & Kang Luo & Ruodi Hu, 2020. "The Spatial Correlations of Health Resource Agglomeration Capacities and Their Influencing Factors: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-18, November.

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