Naturaleza y salud: una alianza necesaria / Nature and health: a necessary alliance

Los estudios científicos que demuestran los beneficios para la salud del contacto regular con espacios naturales y la realización de actividad física en ellos son cada vez más precisos y concluyentes, e incorporan numerosos aspectos relacionados con la salud física y mental. Los equipos de los parques naturales han desarrollado numerosas iniciativas para incorporar el vector de la salud en la planificación y la gestión de estos espacios, con resultados exitosos tanto para la mejora de la salud y el bienestar de las personas como para la conservación del patrimonio natural. En los últimos años han surgido numerosos proyectos en distintas comunidades autónomas y entidades locales que muestran el potencial de esta línea de trabajo colaborativo. Sería deseable desarrollar una estrategia conjunta entre los ámbitos de la salud y la conservación de la naturaleza con el fin de potenciar los indicados beneficios mediante proyectos conjuntos a distintas escalas

Scientific studies showing how regular contact and physical activity in natural environments result in health benefits are increasingly precise and conclusive, and include many aspects related to physical and mental health. Starting from protected areas departments, many initiatives have appeared to incorporate health in the planning and management of these natural spaces, with successful results both for the improvement of the health and well-being of the people and for the conservation of the natural heritage. In recent years, numerous projects have arisen in different autonomous communities and local administrations, which show the potential of this line of collaborative work. It would be desirable to develop a joint strategy between the departments of health and nature conservation in order to enhance the indicated benefits through common projects at different scales

[Nature and health: a necessary alliance]. / Naturaleza y salud: una alianza necesaria.

Scientific studies showing how regular contact and physical activity in natural environments result in health benefits are increasingly precise and conclusive, and include many aspects related to physical and mental health. Starting from protected areas departments, many initiatives have appeared to incorporate health in the planning and management of these natural spaces, with successful results both for the improvement of the health and well-being of the people and for the conservation of the natural heritage. In recent years, numerous projects have arisen in different autonomous communities and local administrations, which show the potential of this line of collaborative work. It would be desirable to develop a joint strategy between the departments of health and nature conservation in order to enhance the indicated benefits through common projects at different scales.

Water relations, gas exchange, and growth of resprouts and mature plant shoots of Arbutus unedo L. and Quercus ilex L.

Resprout and mature plant shoot growth, leaf water status and gas exchange behavior, tissue nutrient content, flowering, and production were studied for co-occurring shallow-rooted (Arbutus unedo L.) and deeprooted (Quercus ilex L.) Mediterranean tree species at the Collserola Natural Park in Northeast Spain Resprouts showed higher growth rates than mature plant shoots. During fall, no differences in eco-physiological performance of leaves were found, but mobilization of carbohydrates from burls strongly stimulated growth of fall resprouts compared to spring resprouts, despite low exposed leaf area of the fall shoots. During summer drought, resprouts exhibited improved water status and carbon fixation compared to mature plant shoots. Shoot growth of Q. ilex was apparently extended due to deep rooting so that initial slower growth during spring and early summer as compared to A. unedo was compensated. Tissue nutrient contents varied only slightly and are postulated to be of minor importance in controlling rate of shoot growth, perhaps due to the relatively fertile soil of the site. Fall flowering appeared to inhibit fall shoot growth in A. unedo, but did not occur in Q. ilex. The results demonstrate that comparative examinations utilizing vegetation elements with differing morphological and physiological adaptations can be used to analyze relatively complex phenomena related to resprouting behavior. The studies provide an important multi-dimensional background framework for further studies of resprouting in the European Mediterranean region.

Comparative genet survival after fire in woody Mediterranean species.

Using data from three fires in northeastern Spain, we tested a condition necessary to support the idea that fire has been a factor in the evolution of the resprouting habit: populations of all resprouting species within a community should show high levels of genet survival after fires and show a low coefficient of variation. Species with high mean survival values were:Quercus ilex L.,Phillyrea latifolia L., andViburnum tinus L., with 88, 86 and 83% survival respectively; these groups had resprouts emerging from rootcrowns. Then followedArbutus unedo L. (75%),Pistacia lentiscus L. (73%),Erica arborea L. (77%),Erica multiflora L. (57%) andJuniperus oxycedrus L. (55%). This last group had resprouts from lignotubers or burls. These two groups also differed in the variability around the mean: the first showed a lower coefficient of variation, 6-12, and the second ranged from 19 to 26. Slope exposure had no significant influence on the process of resprouting, but soil depth did, with precipitation as a covariate. In the shallow soil category, the difference in genet survival between southern and northern exposures was 14% (71% vs. 57%); while the difference in the deep soil category was low, 5% (87% vs. 82%). There was no significant interaction. The component of variance for soils was larger than that for species-specific effects; substantial overlap of the within-species variance indicated that species responded as if they were a single hypothetical population, in which most of the variation in chances of survival was due to the soil conditions. The possession of the resprouting habit did not ensure a high performance. Hence, we find weak support for fire as a factor in the evolution of the resprouting habit.