Linking biodiversity and human health to achieve sustainability

Abstract

In recent years, several trends have emerged that impact human lives in Malta. Some of these trends include an increase in construction activity and a heightened incidence of health conditions or illnesses, such as asthma. These trends may be justified through a multitude of reasons, but a number of factors that contribute to these trends have been identified. These factors mainly involve the weakening of the human-nature connection and illustrate how humans are becoming increasingly isolated from nature and biodiversity. This paper presents a local analysis of the abundance and unique biodiversity present on the Maltese islands and the extent to which the local adult population regard local biodiversity as integral to their health and personal well-being. Additionally, the study aims to identify gaps in knowledge and to address these gaps through transformative educational campaigns. Finally, the paper also discusses the role of higher education institutions in achieving these changes. Through the research findings, a number of recommendations are suggested to increase awareness on the links between human health and biodiversity. The results of this research will also help policy makers in the health and environmental sectors to ensure the effectiveness of efforts to increase awareness through a variety of ways including educational campaigns. This paper will be useful to anyone interested in making the link between human health and biodiversity more apparent through the application of research by Higher Education Institutions whilst fostering a transformative approach.