Ecohealth as a field: looking forward.

Area of Science:

• Ecohealth
• Ecology and Health
• One Health

Background:

• The field of ecohealth is an emerging discipline.
• It focuses on the interconnections between human health and ecosystem health.
• Diverse partnerships and collaborations are crucial for its evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reflect on the field of ecohealth.
• To identify strategies for sustaining a supportive environment for collaboration.
• To explore actors, processes, structures, standards, and resources within ecohealth.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative thematic analysis of workshop notes.
• Semantic network analysis of discussions.
• A preconference workshop with 105 participants from 38 countries.

Main Results:

• Ecohealth central issues include human health, complex systems thinking, action, and ecosystem health.
• A shared goal is to engage government and the public beyond academia.
• A significant roadblock is the perceived disconnect between participant concerns and funding agency priorities.

Conclusions:

• Sustaining ecohealth requires addressing the gap between research priorities and funding landscapes.
• Fostering interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations is essential for the field's advancement.
• Effective communication and alignment with funding bodies are critical for future growth.