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Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health

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Forests, Trees and Human Health

Abstract

In this chapter we briefly discuss the concept of forest taking into account the provision of different goods and services. We provide some technical information on the forest classification systems adopted in Europe which are then reflected in the different roles and meanings that Europeans give to forests. We give a special emphasis to urban forests considering their origins, typologies and indicators. The importance of urban forests is analyzed including the role that forest areas and green spaces can play in contemporary (sustainable) cities. Different citizens’ attitudes towards urban environment are also discussed considering the cultural differences existing at European level. The effects of urban forests on urban environments (i.e., hydrology climate, air quality, biodiversity) and human health are finally discussed. This chapter considers the social role of urban forest and the relationship existing between forests and communities through emerging approaches such as community forests.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vegetal Production Science (DSPV), Università di Bari, Bari, Italy

    Giovanni Sanesi

  2. Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christos Gallis

  3. Department of Conservation Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    Hans Dieter Kasperidus

Authors
  1. Giovanni Sanesi
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  2. Christos Gallis
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  3. Hans Dieter Kasperidus
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Correspondence to Giovanni Sanesi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Parks and Urban Landscapes, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark

    Kjell Nilsson

  2. , Land Use and Social Research, Forestry Commission, Corstorphine Road 231, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT, United Kingdom

    Marcus Sangster

  3. , National Agricultural Research Foundatio, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, 57006, Greece

    Christos Gallis

  4. , Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Radhustorget 1, Gävle, 80320, Sweden

    Terry Hartig

  5. , Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands

    Sjerp de Vries

  6. , Group Society, Environment & Culture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E, Sonneggstrasse 33, SOL E, Zurich, 9092, Switzerland

    Klaus Seeland

  7. , National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5 A - 2, Copenhagen K, 1353, Denmark

    Jasper Schipperijn

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Sanesi, G., Gallis, C., Kasperidus, H.D. (2011). Urban Forests and Their Ecosystem Services in Relation to Human Health. In: Nilsson, K., et al. Forests, Trees and Human Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9806-1_2

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