大都市における自然の便益に関して、科学的根拠データをレビューしたレポートが発表されています。 シアトル大のKathleen L. Wolf先生らが発表した、「 Metro Nature, Environmental Health, and Economic Value」 では、都市内の自然が人の健康や幸福、その他機能改善などに都市住民に対して多様な便益をもたらすことを紹介しています。 考察では以下のように記述されています。(本文から転載) ”Discussion: Economic valuation of benefits derived from urban green systems has largely been undertaken in the fields of environmental and natural resource economics, but studies have not typically addressed health outcomes. Urban trees, parks, gardens, open spaces, and other nearby nature elements—collectively termed metro nature—generate many positive externalities that have been largely overlooked in urban economics and policy. Here, we present a range of health benefits, including benefit context and beneficiaries. Although the understanding of these benefits is not yet consistently expressed, and although it is likely that attempts to link urban ecosystem services and economic values will not include all expressions of cultural or social value, the develo