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Public space

Healthy Peri-urban Routes (mainly around protected natural spaces)

CONTEXT

If we accept the concept of health established by the WHO, in which it goes beyond the absence of disease and incorporates physical, mental and social wellbeing, then we must recognise the strength of the synergistic relationship between health and physical activity. This relationship is especially strong if we take into account the fact that we have known the effects of a lack of physical activity on health and the prevalence of non-infectious diseases for almost a decade. Accordingly, it is known that a sedentary lifestyle and insufficient physical activity are among the ten risk factors that contribute to the appearance of chronic diseases. Nature is considered to be a calm and restful space where you can get away from the elements that cause stress in the modern urban world. Although studies linking nature, plants and microbiota to health are in their infancy, it seems that there is scientific evidence for a relationship between nature, green spaces in cities and mental wellbeing. Other studies have also established that the relationship between treatments in natural or naturalised spaces and their effectiveness is so positive that many hospitals now feature therapeutic gardens as part of their treatment programmes.

Finally, the importance of participation and community as inherent aspects of the design and use of routes should be highlighted. It is also necessary to treat health from the relational and community perspective, which is a dimension that should be contemplated throughout the entire process, both in the design itself and in the activities and services associated with the routes.

OBJECTIVE

The creation of health routes in natural environments adapted to the therapeutic and preventive needs of the local population, incorporating the participation of the local fabric, with a view to improving physical, relational and mental health.

PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Create a local group made up of the administration, managers of protected spaces, health actors and any other agents of the local fabric that may be involved to drive the initiative.
• Have the routes run through natural spaces (especially mature forests) or spaces that are as naturalised as possible.
• Identify and map the actors around the route to associate them with additional activities and services.
• Use and improve existing resources (paths, infrastructure, facilities, etc.) within the framework of the route project.
• Adapt the routes and their services to the profile of the potential population and its needs.
• Always focus on health and safety factors and the universal use of the routes.
• Complement the routes with guiding or self-guiding elements.
• Take an inventory of the heritage elements associated with the routes (architectural, cultural, historic, archaeological, biological…).

REFERENCE EXPERIENCES

LEGISLATION

• Llei 2/2004, de 4 de juny, de millora de barris, àrees urbanes i viles que requereixen una atenció especial.
• Pla integral per la promoció de l'activitat física i l'alimentació saludable.
• Pla d'Activitat Física, Esport i Salut (PAFES) de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

STUDIES AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

• “The Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection” de l’Institute for European Environmetnal Policy
• EUROPARC, 2020. “Health & Well-being benefits from Parks & Protected Areas”.
• Estratégia Mundial sobre régimen alimentario, actividad física y salud, OMS
• Steffan, J.J., et al., 2018. The effect of soil on human Health: an overview. European Journal of Soil Science, 69, 159-171.
• Wall, D.H., Nielsen, U.N., Six, J., 2015. Soil biodiversity and human Health. Macmillan Publishers Limited. Perspective. Nature, 1-8.

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