A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Ecosystem health and planetary well-being (2024)

Brila, I., Hämäläinen, A. M., Jernfors, T., Kallio, E. R., Kesäniemi, J., Koskela, E., Lavrinienko, A., Scholier, T., Wang, Y., & Watts, P. C. (2024). Ecosystem health and planetary well-being. In M. Elo, J. Hytönen, S. Karkulehto, T. Kortetmäki, J. S. Kotiaho, M. Puurtinen, & M. Salo (Eds.), Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Planetary Well-Being (pp. 59-71). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003334002-7

JYU authors or editors

Hämäläinen, Anni
Jernfors, Toni
Kallio, Eva
Kesäniemi, Jenni
Koskela, Esa
Lavrinienko, Anton
Scholier, Tiffany
Wang, Yingying
Watts, Phillip

Publication details

All authors or editors: Brila, Ilze; Hämäläinen, Anni M.; Jernfors, Toni; Kallio, Eva R.; Kesäniemi, Jenni; Koskela, Esa; Lavrinienko, Anton; Scholier, Tiffany; Wang, Yingying; Watts, Phillip C.

Parent publication: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Planetary Well-Being

Parent publication editors: Elo, Merja; Hytönen, Jonne; Karkulehto, Sanna; Kortetmäki, Teea; Kotiaho, Janne S.; Puurtinen, Mikael; Salo, Miikka

ISBN: 978-1-032-36828-3

eISBN: 978-1-003-33400-2

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 15/06/2023

Pages range: 59-71

Number of pages in the book: 270

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: Abingdon

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003334002-7

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88215

Abstract

Healthy ecosystems support the well-being of all organisms on Earth. Yet, the overexploitation of natural resources for human needs and profit has resulted in widespread ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate emergency, which pose fundamental threats to planetary well-being. Impoverished ecosystems may become dysfunctional and fail to provide for the needs of many organisms, including humans and wildlife. Changes in ecosystem functioning and wildlife distributions affect the prevalence and spread of pathogens, with consequences for the health and well-being of human and wildlife communities alike. Increasing contact between humans and domestic and wild animals enable pathogen spillover, while global trade and travel distribute pathogens to new areas. Human activities thus provide favourable conditions for pandemics and trigger cascading consequences for ecosystems worldwide. A better integration of ecosystem health into public health and conservation planning could alleviate disease burden and improve well-being of all organisms on the planet.

Keywords: ecosystems (ecology); state of the environment; biodiversity; loss of nature; animal diseases; zoonoses; plant diseases; pathogens; spreading (process)