EUROPE
EUROPEAN DAY OF PROTECTED AREAS
The European Day of protected areas is celebrated on May 24th. Born from the world of protected areas and those involved in nature conservation, it aims to spread awareness of how contact with nature is essential for mankind and its health.
It is becoming increasingly evident that conserving nature and restoring damaged habitats are essential tools to preserve our health and well-being.
If the Parks were established for the conservation of natural resources, it is important now to highlight their value also in connecting people with nature: biodiversity and the ecosystem services that Parks provide are essential for our well-being.
Parks and protected areas in general have a fundamental mission in connecting people with nature. Not only do they protect our natural resources, but the biodiversity and ecosystem services are essential to our well-being.
Relationship between European day of protected areas & architecture
Architecture can be considered as an ever-changing concept, always innovating and finding better ways to approach nowadays needs. In earlier times, architecture used nature as a tool, whereas today, architecture must consider nature as a whole, making it part of every place. As Hopkins states “architects and designers have control over our built environment; by changing the way we design cities and buildings to connect to rather than disconnect from nature, we can change our proximity to nature and shift our physical relationship to the environment”. Preserving nature and restoring damaged habitats is therefore an essential tool to preserve our health and well-being.
The importance of nature for our health
The passage of pathogens (such as viruses) from wild animals to humans is facilitated by the progressive destruction and modification of ecosystems. The trade, often illegal and uncontrolled, of wild species determines an intimate contact between animals and their pathogens.
The growing human impact on ecosystems and wildlife species, combined with global climate change, weakens natural ecosystems. This facilitates the spread of pathogens by increasing human exposure to such risks. These emerging diseases can have a dramatic cost in terms of human lives and strong socio-economic impacts.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
