The social benefits of Blue Space: a systematic review

Reviews published literature on the social and health benefits of rivers, lakes and coastal waters – referred to collectively as ‘Blue Space’.

Environment Agency   ‘This project reviewed the published literature on the social and health benefits of rivers, lakes and coastal waters – referred to collectively as ‘Blue Space’. The project’s main aims were to capture the positive social and health benefits of Blue Space and compare them to the benefits of the environment in general – often referred to in the literature as ‘Green Space’.

The review focused on studies that quantified the social and health outcomes associated with people’s interaction with Blue Space. It captured the evidence of what is distinctive about the social and health benefits provided by rivers, lakes and coastal waters. The report sets this out and compares it against comparable evidence of the positive effects of Green Space.

This evidence will help the Environment Agency to develop its understanding of the contribution made by the water environment to achieving environmental and social policy outcomes.’

Published 30 October 2020   Click here to read the report