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This project examines the global biases in nature’s mental health benefits research by systematically reviewing peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to 2020, anchored in Henrich et al.'s (2010) critique of behavioral science’s Western bias. Our analysis of 174 studies reveals a dominance of White, Western participants, limited ethnic representation (62% omit ethnicity), and a narrow view of both nature (greenspace, forests) and mental well-being. Given the deep ties between planetary health and cultural diversity—the Ethnosphere—we call for a more inclusive, pluralistic approach to studying nature’s mental health effects, expanding beyond unrepresentative populations and perspectives. 

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A collaboration across Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia investigated the health and well-being impacts of disruptions to traditional agroecosystems and environmental relationships. This participatory study incorporated 52 consultative meetings with stakeholders and employed a triangulated analysis of discourse, community perspectives, interviews, focus groups, and expert panels. The findings revealed how Andean ontologies, rooted in eco-systemic relationships with the land, inform communal health practices. Specifically, the study examined the buen vivir (good living) framework, which integrates cognitive, emotional, and behavioral coherence within human-environment interactions, presenting an alternative paradigm to dominant Western well-being models. 

“The chakra [heterogeneous family-based polycultures] is a source of life: it is like a Mother who cares, who puts the mind at peace, that bears fruit and serves for all, the ecosystem […] Without this diversity, one cannot say that the field is beautiful. This also affects both the body and the mind, and that is all.” (Testimonial shared in a focus group, adult male in Caliata 2018 [GMAC]; see: Gallegos-Riofrío et al., 2022a: 854)

Pilot Study Among Rural-Urban Communities in the Highlands of Ecuador: Exploring the Convergence of Place of Residence and Human Health through a Systems and Pluralistic Perspective

The Agroecology and Planetary Health Program is a REI Cooperative Action Fund grantee. The Symphony Project is supported by REI Centering Health Outside’s Gift “Earth-Human Connection: Intersections of Health, Agroecology and Justice” 

This mixed-methods, proof-of-concept study, investigates the relationship between nature and human health using a systemic approach that overcomes persistent biases. Grounded in the idea that human and ecosystem health are interconnected, we emphasize the role of cultural, social, and behavioral factors in shaping well-being. Our objectives are (a) to assess the cultural sensitivity of a methodological framework and (b) to develop a holistic health model informed by territorial experiences, complementing concepts like One Health and Planetary Health. 

Working across agroecological, agroindustrial, and urban settings with 54 participants, we will apply a comprehensive methodological package that integrates environmental, biological, physical, psychometric, and qualitative variables. Data collection includes site analysis, biological and physical sampling, human and environmental microbiome, psychometric assessments, and a multi-component questionnaire covering living conditions, health, nutrition, physical activity, agricultural practices, and landscape perceptions. Additionally, life histories will be gathered to enrich qualitative insights. 

Affiliated Resources

This specialized component of the SYMPHONY Project, supported by the Mind & Life’s Varela Grant, explores Indigenous knowledge, mental health, and agroecology in Ecuador through the Andean concept of pacharuna, which sees humans and nature as interconnected. It examines how traditional agroecological spaces influence well-being among Kichwa communities in Chimborazo Province, addressing the impacts of displacement and urban migration. Using a mixed-methods approach—including cardiac coherence measurements and in-depth interviews with 54 participants—the study advances Indigenous contemplative science while challenging the erasure of Indigenous practices. Its findings promote a more inclusive understanding of mental health and advocate for recognizing traditional knowledge in contemporary research. 

Ancient Wisdom for a Thriving Future: Unveiling Climate-Resilient, Healthy Food Systems through Caliata’s Terraces, supported by Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Climate Change And Human Health Seed Grants 

Amid a global emergency, Caliata, a Blue Zone-like community in Ecuador, thrives on sustainable agriculture atop ancient terraces. This biocultural landscape may uncover scalable, climate-resilient, and health-boosting solutions for highland regions. 

Caliata, an Ecuadorian highland community, thrives on sustainable agriculture atop ancient terraces. This biocultural landscape may offer scalable, climate-resilient, and health-promoting solutions. Integrating Ancestral Wisdom with archaeology, agroecology, and public health, we investigate the terraces' design, longevity, and role in food production using LiDAR, excavations, and geochemical analysis. Community testimonials highlight their resilience to extreme weather, while previous research links them to diverse diets, active lifestyles, and low chronic disease rates. Expanding on Blue Zone-like traits, we incorporate mental health and biomarkers. Rooted in participatory research, this study could inform climate adaptation in mountainous regions.