In a nutshell...
The HEALTHY PARKS project (PARCS en Santé) aims to produce the scientific knowledge necessary for the development of an integrated and sustainable intervention strategy enabling both the preservation of biodiversity in large peri-urban natural parks and the reduction of health risks related to tick-borne diseases.
Natural parks provide many benefits. They improve health and well-being by reducing stress, providing a place to take part in physical activity as well as allowing us to be in contact with nature. These green spaces improve air quality, help regulate climate and reduce the risk of flooding. They provide precious habitats for wildlife and help preserve biodiversity.
Weakened by the high population density around them, natural parks located near cities are surrounded by buildings and isolated from one another. This fragmentation limits animal movement and disrupts the ecosystem’s fragile balance.
In urban parks, white-tailed deer are often overabundant due to lack of predators and habitat fragmentation. This overpopulation causes significant damage to the ecosystems due to the destruction of young trees and plants which limits the forest’s ability to regenerate and threatens its survival.
These disruptions also increase risks to human and animal health. In Canada, there is an increase in tick-borne diseases. People can be exposed to tick-borne diseases in natural parks. Climate change and an overabundance of white-tailed deer promote the proliferation of ticks which transmit Lyme disease.
HEALTHY PARKS (PARCS en Santé) brings together researchers, park managers and citizens to develop effective, sustainable and concerted measures which will protect our parks and the health of their visitors for many years. These solutions could eventually be used in other parks across Canada.
This axe focuses on the study of ticks and tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease. It aims to understand how the presence of deer and other elements of nature can influence the number of ticks and the risk of disease in natural parks.
This axe focuses on restoring natural park ecosystems through a better understanding of white-tailed deer behaviour. Deer can cause significant damage to young trees and plants, threatening the survival of the forest. By studying interactions between deer, plants and other animals, solutions for maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem can be conceived.
This project encourages citizens to participate in scientific research aiming to improve ecosystem conservation and tick-borne disease prevention. It examines whether involving park users in data collection or nature observation can raise public awareness, increase one’s ability to protect oneself, and encourage preventive behaviors that are respectful of the environment.
The "One Health" approach is one that recognizes the connectedness of human, animal and ecosystem healths. By working together, specialists, managers, scientists and citizens can better understand and solve problems which affect us all.
For example, some illnesses such as Lyme disease can be transmitted from animals to humans. By monitoring and controlling these diseases in animals, and understanding how their natural habitats function, we can prevent the emergence or propagation of new diseases. By protecting our environment, we create better living conditions for all.
In summary, the "One Health" approach encourages us to collaborate and take care of our planet to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all living communities.
A transdisciplinary approach
The HEALTHY PARKS (PARCS en Santé) project brings together specialists from diverse backgrounds (ecology, health, social sciences and humanities) and organizations from different sectors (environment, health) and form different levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal). This diversity allows for a global approach to problems, and recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and ecosystem healths, as proposed by the One Health approach.
A participatory approach
Right from the start, partners were able to contribute to the development of the project through co-creation workshops. In addition, the project includes a citizen science component, which allows visitors to the parks to become involved in diverse research activities.
Knowledge mobilization
Activities are planned throughout the first years of the project that will allow the public to become involved. Thanks to a partnership with Espace pour la vie (City of Montreal), a web platform, day-camp workshops, a podcast, as well as other initiatives will be created. The knowledge and results from the project will be shared and accessible to all.
