Urban landscapes and public health
Increasing urbanization patterns have resulted in significant and serious environmental health concerns (e.g. caused by a lack of physical activity). Urban planners face the challenge of developing healthy, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. This chapter addresses this challenge from an urban landscape perspective, promoting a socioecological approach, and recognizing that landscapes are shaped in close interaction between nature and culture—with cities being an ultimate example of human shaping and impact. It provides examples of how urban landscapes have contributed to better public health, from urban agriculture and community gardening, to therapeutic settings and urban wildscapes. Landscape-related approaches such as green urbanism, urban resiliency, and biophilic urbanism are introduced and examples are offered of how cities have worked with these. Suggestions are provided for the planning and development of health-promoting urban landscapes.