The implications of biodiversity loss for the global environment have been widely discussed, but only recently has attention been paid to its direct and serious effects on human health. Biodiversity loss affects the spread of human diseases, causes a loss of medical models, diminishes the supplies of raw materials for drug discovery and biotechnology, and threatens food production and water quality.Biodiversity and Human Health brings together leading thinkers on the global environment and biomedicine to explore the human health consequences of the loss of biological diversity. Based on a two-day conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution, the book opens a dialogue among experts from the fields of public health, biology, epidemiology, botany, ecology, demography, and pharmacology on this vital but often neglected concern.Contributors discuss the uses and significance of biodiversity to the practice of medicine today, and develop strategies for conservation of these critical resources. Topics examined include: the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss emerging infectious diseases and the loss of biodiversity the significance and use of both prescription and herbal biodiversity-derived remedies indigenous and local peoples and their health care systems sustainable use of biodiversity for medicine an agenda for the future In addition to the editors, contributors include Anthony Artuso, Byron Bailey, Jensa Bell, Bhaswati Bhattacharya, Michael Boyd, Mary S. Campbell, Eric Chivian, Paul Cox, Gordon Cragg, Andrew Dobson, Kate Duffy-Mazan, Robert Engelman, Paul Epstein, Alexandra S. Fairfield, John Grupenhoff, Daniel Janzen, Catherine A. Laughin, Katy Moran, Robert McCaleb, Thomas Mays, David Newman, Charles Peters, Walter Reid, and John Vandermeer.The book provides a common framework for physicians and biomedical researchers who wish to learn more about environmental concerns, and for members of the environmental community who desire a greater understanding of biomedical issues.
Foreword \ Thomas E. Lovejoy Preface \ Philip E. Schambra Acknowledgments Introduction \ Francesca Grifo and Joshua Rosenthal
PART I. Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss for Human Health Chapter 1. Global Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Loss: Implications for Human Health \ Eric Chivian Chapter 2. Earthly Dominion: Population Growth, Biodiversity, and Health \ Robert Engleman Chapter 3. Biodiversity and Emerging Infectious Diseases: Integrating Health and Ecosystem Monitoring \ Paul R. Epstein, Andrew Dobson, and John Vandermeer Chapter 4. Fatal Synergisms: Interactions between Infectious Diseases, Human Population Growth, and Loss of Biodiversity \ Andrew Dobson, Mary S. Campbell, and Jensa Bell Chapter 5. Biodiversity Loss In and Around Agroecosystems \ John Vandermeer
PART II. Drug Discovery from Biological Diversity Chapter 6. The Origins of Prescription Drugs Contents \ Francesca Grifo, David Newman, Alexandra S. Fairfield, Bhaswati Bhattacharya, and John T. Grupenhoff Chapter 7. Natural Products for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases \ Catherine A. Laughlin and Alexandra S. Fairfield Chapter 8. Capturing the Chemical Value of Biodiversity: Economic Perspectives and Policy Prescriptions \ Anthony Artuso
PART Ill. Biodiversity and Traditional Health Systems Chapter 9. Indigenous Peoples and Conservation \ Paul Alan Cox Chapter 10. Medicinal Plants for Healing the Planet: Biodiversity and Environmental Health Care \ Robert S. McCaleb Chapter 11. Returning Benefits from Ethnobotanical Drug Discovery to Native Communities \ Katy Moran
PART IV. An Agenda for the Future: Conserving Biodiversity and Human Health Chapter 12. A Paradigm for the Equitable Sharing of Benefits Resulting from Biodiversity Research and Development \ Thomas D. Mays, Kate Duffy-Mazan, Gordon Cragg, and Michael Boyd Chapter 13. Integrating Drug Discovery, Biodiversity Conservation, and Economic Development: Early Lessons from the International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups \ Joshua Rosenthal Chapter 14. Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss: Liquidation of Natural Capital and Biodiversity Resource Development in Costa Rica \ Daniel H. Janzen Chapter 15. Sustainable Use of Biodiversity: Myths, Realities, and Potential \ Charles M. Peters Chapter 16. Opportunities for Collaboration between the Biomedical and Conservation Communities \ Walter V. Reid
Afterword: A Proposal for a National Council on Biodiversity and Human Health \ Byron J. Bailey and John T. Grupenhoff Contributors Index
