Biodiversity, Landscapes, and Human Health Email List

A new email list has been created to facilitate information sharing and foster communication and discussion among a Biodiversity, Landscape Change and Human Health Community of Practice (CoP). This CoP was established during a September 2009 Regional Science Workshop in New England. “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Wenger 2006).

The workshop and CoP support EPA’s Biodiversity and Human Health Initiative:

EPA recognizes the importance of healthy ecosystems for our health and well-being, and conserving biodiversity is a primary way to sustain healthy ecosystems and the services they provide to us. One ecosystem service EPA is trying to better characterize is disease regulation—that is, maintaining biodiversity may protect us against emerging diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus.

A primary goal of the "Biodiv-LandscapeandHuman_Health" email list is to foster the use of scientific knowledge and tools to improve our decision-making on natural resources and human disease risk. The list is a primary mechanism for collaboration among a broad stakeholder community, including the general public and experts in public health, natural resources, geography, natural sciences, and land use planning and design. Members can share information on scientific findings, publications, upcoming events, and opportunities, and can engage in timely discussions on science and science policy.

The list is maintained at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and is managed by Greg Hellyer and Montira Pongsiri of EPA and Peter August of URI. To subscribe, contact:

Greg Hellyer, Environmental Scientist
USEPA - New England Regional Lab (NERL)
Ecosystem Assessment Unit (ECA)
617-918-8677 (Office)
617-918-8577 (Fax)
   or    Montira J. Pongsiri, Environmental Health Scientist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
202-564-0978 (Office)
202-564-2070 (Fax)