Human Well-Being and Its Applications and Prospects in Ecology

Maintaining and improving human well-being and promoting sustainable development has become an important topic and a new direction in the research of ecology. However so far only limited information relevant to human well-being in ecology is available in literature. A brief introduction to the concept, and development of human well-being, a review of human well-being evaluation index systems, and a summary that currently the concept of human well-being is embodied are presented in the following 3 aspects in the study of ecology: (1) relationships between human well-being and ecosystem services; (2) characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of human well-being; and (3) effects of driving forces behind the variation of the ecosystem on human well-being. The directions and challenges of the research in future are prospected. Building up a comprehensive human well-being evaluation index system, quantifying the relationships between human well-being and ecosystem services, and enhancing the study on the local and regional scale are the frontiers of the study on human well-being in ecology. Working on these scientific issues will promote application of the concept of human well-being to decision-making management at various governmental levels.