Eco-Health Relationship Browser Introduction
Welcome!
The Eco-Health Relationship Browser illustrates the linkages between human health and ecosystem services—benefits supplied by Nature. This interactive tool provides information about our nation's ecosystems, the services they provide, and how those services, or their degradation and loss, may affect people.
Ecosystems, such as wetlands and forests, provide a wide variety of goods and services, many of which we use every day. However, some of these services, such as air filtration, are not obvious and it therefore may be hard to understand the impact they have on our daily lives.
Scientific studies have documented the many tangible and intangible services and health benefits that are provided by our surrounding ecosystems. This tool is designed so that users can easily explore the services ecosystems provide and how those services affect human health and well-being. It is important to note that the studies summarized in this tool are by no means an exhaustive list. For more information, contact Laura Jackson at jackson.laura@epa.gov.
How to Use the Browser
There are three main components to the browser:
- Ecosystems
- Ecosystem Services and
- Health Outcomes
In this tool, there are four ecosystems, six ecosystem services and numerous health outcomes available to explore.
The box on the right-hand side of the screen will always describe the item in the central circle. If you wish to learn about the linkage between two items, hover over the "+" symbol and a pop-up box will appear that describes the relationship.
To navigate the browser, you have two options: simply click on the item you are interested in or select the item from the drop down menu (see below).
