Ecosystem Restoration and Human Health: A Scoping Review (2015-2025)

Ecosystem Restoration and Human Health: A Scoping Review (2015-2025) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Ecosystem Restoration and Human Health: A Scoping Review (2015-2025) James Prendergast, Jennifer S. Lord, Phuong Bich Tran, Sinead O'Doherty, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9054328/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: Ecosystem restoration, used here as an umbrella term (e.g., rewilding, reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, river re-naturalisation, species reintroduction, soil regeneration), is gaining momentum as a potential nature-based solution with public health co-benefits. However, evidence that specifically links exposure to restored/rewilded ecosystems (beyond generic greenspace) to measured health outcomes remains fragmented. Objective: To map and characterise evidence on associations between exposure to recently restored or rewilded ecosystems and human health and well-being outcomes. Methods: A scoping review (2015–2025) was conducted following JBI guidance and reported per PRISMA-ScR. Databases searched: PubMed, Scopus, GreenFILE, Environment Complete, and Discovery (last search 10 March 2025). Title/abstract screening was undertaken independently by two reviewers in Rayyan with multidisciplinary consensus resolution; a third reviewer adjudicated persistent uncertainties. Data were charted using a pre-piloted extraction framework and were synthesised thematically; no critical appraisal was undertaken, consistent with scoping methodology. Results: Included studies (N = 19) spanned multiple continents and restoration modalities (e.g., forest landscape restoration, natural regeneration, wetland/coastal rehabilitation, species reintroductions). Mental well-being and broader quality-of-life outcomes predominated; physical health outcomes were less common. The overall direction of effect was largely beneficial, with isolated negative perceptions in certain concepts. Framing varied: a subset explicitly examined restoration (more likely to measure biodiversity/quality), while others treated exposure implicitly as access to "natural" areas, often assuming ecological quality. Conclusions: Restored and rewilded ecosystems appear promising interventions for human health and wellbeing. Furthermore, an integrated approach to human and environmental health has been proposed to aid future research, which should integrate biodiversity/quality metrics with health outcomes, adopt equity-centred designs, and employ longer-term approaches to inform policy and practice. Health Policy Terrestrial Ecology Health Economics & Outcomes Research Conservation Biology Preventive Medicine Ecosystem restoration Rewilding Nature-based solutions Human health and well-being Biodiversity and health Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files S1filePrismaScRchecklist.pdf S1 File - Prisma checklist S2filesearchterms.pdf S2 File - Search terms Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9054328","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":602266239,"identity":"9a0955c1-f3d3-4ab2-a6ae-ed6a4962ffb5","order_by":0,"name":"James Prendergast","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2067-7791","institution":"Lancaster Medical School","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"James","middleName":"","lastName":"Prendergast","suffix":""},{"id":602266240,"identity":"fea434e9-3103-41bd-89cc-62645bcbe45b","order_by":1,"name":"Jennifer S. 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