Abstract Nature affects human well-being in multiple ways. However, the association between species diversity and human well-being at larger spatial scales remains largely unexplored. Here, we examine the relationship between species diversity and human well-being at the continental scale, while controlling for other known drivers of well-being. We related socio-economic data from more than 26,000 European citizens across 26 countries with macroecological data on species diversity and nature characteristics for Europe. Human well-being was measured as self-reported life-satisfaction and species diversity as the species richness of several taxonomic groups (e.g. birds, mammals and trees). Our results show that bird species richness is positively associated with life-satisfaction across Europe. We found a relatively strong relationship, indicating that the effect of bird species richness on life-satisfaction may be of similar magnitude to that of income. We discuss two, non-exclusive pathways for this relationship: the direct multisensory experience of birds, and beneficial landscape properties which promote both bird diversity and people's well-being. Based on these results, this study argues that management actions for the protection of birds and the landscapes that support them would benefit humans. We suggest that political and societal decision-making should consider the critical role of species diversity for human well-being.

中文翻译：

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物种多样性对欧洲人类福祉的重要性

摘要 自然以多种方式影响人类福祉。然而，在更大的空间尺度上，物种多样性与人类福祉之间的关联在很大程度上仍未得到探索。在这里，我们在大陆范围内检查物种多样性与人类福祉之间的关系，同时控制其他已知的福祉驱动因素。我们将来自 26 个国家的 26,000 多名欧洲公民的社会经济数据与欧洲物种多样性和自然特征的宏观生态数据相关联。人类福祉被衡量为自我报告的生活满意度和物种多样性，以及几个分类群（例如鸟类、哺乳动物和树木）的物种丰富度。我们的研究结果表明，鸟类物种丰富度与整个欧洲的生活满意度呈正相关。我们发现了一个比较牢固的关系，表明鸟类物种丰富度对生活满意度的影响可能与收入的影响程度相似。我们讨论了这种关系的两个非排他性途径：鸟类的直接多感官体验，以及促进鸟类多样性和人类福祉的有益景观特性。基于这些结果，本研究认为保护鸟类和支持它们的景观的管理行动将使人类受益。我们建议政治和社会决策应考虑物种多样性对人类福祉的关键作用。有益的景观特性，可促进鸟类多样性和人类福祉。基于这些结果，本研究认为保护鸟类和支持它们的景观的管理行动将使人类受益。我们建议政治和社会决策应考虑物种多样性对人类福祉的关键作用。有益的景观特性，可促进鸟类多样性和人类福祉。基于这些结果，本研究认为保护鸟类和支持它们的景观的管理行动将使人类受益。我们建议政治和社会决策应考虑物种多样性对人类福祉的关键作用。