PHENOTYPE

Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe

Duration: 2012-2015
Coordinator: Mark Nieuwenhuijsen (ISGlobal)
Funded by: European Comission
Website: http://www.phenotype.eu

ISGlobal coordinates the PHENOTYPE project, which began on January 2012, and intends to investigate the interconnections between exposure to natural outdoor environments (in both rural and urban settings) and better human health and well-being.

The coordinator is Dr. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, research professor in water pollution programme at ISGlobal in Barcelona. Furthermore 7 research centres from Europe and one from United States will participate in this project. The total budget is almost 3.5 million Euros provided by European Union.

PHENOTYPE (Positive health effects of the natural outdoor environment in typical populations in different regions in Europe) aims to achieve a more robust evidence base on links between exposure to natural outdoor environment and human health and well-being for various regions in Europe, including a better understanding of the potential mechanisms. Another aims is to reach a better integration of human health needs into land use planning and green space management in rural as well as urban areas, and practical guidelines. Both preventive and therapeutic effects of contact with the natural environment will be considered.

The natural outdoor environment ranges from rural to urban settings, and the proposed work will include and evaluate:

green spaces (e.g. roof gardens, city parks, court yards) and “greenery” (forests, nature reserves/parks, mountains, farmland, trees, landscaping…).
blue spaces (water such as canals, ponds, creeks, rivers, beaches etc).