Biodiversity and the Feel-Good Factor: Understanding Associations between Self-Reported Human Well-being and Species Richness

Over half of the world's human population lives in cities, and for many, urban greenspaces are the only places where they encounter biodiversity. This is of particular concern because there is growing evidence that human well-being is enhanced by exposure to nature. However, the specific qualities of greenspaces that offer the greatest benefits remain poorly understood. One possibility is that humans respond positively to increased levels of biodiversity. Here, we demonstrate the lack of a consistent relationship between actual plant, butterfly, and bird species richness and the psychological well-being of urban greenspace visitors. Instead, well-being shows a positive relationship with the richness that the…

• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Awards: EP/ F007388/1, EP/F007388/1