UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State faculty members edited and contributed to the newly published book “Tourism, Health, Wellbeing and Protected Areas,” which focuses on global evidence that shows parks and other protected areas contribute to a healthy society and therefore increase the importance of cultural and nature-based tourism.

B. Derrick Taff, assistant professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Penn State, served as co-editor of the book, published by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), which is expected to be used by students, other academics, tourism providers and protected areas managers to continue considering the health benefits associated with such unique places.

“This book, which addresses the relationship between tourism, protected areas, and health, has global scope, representing research and best practices regarding this topic from around the world,” Taff said.

Additionally, Peter Newman, professor and head of the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State, and Jake Benfield, associate professor psychology at Penn State Abington, each authored chapters for the manuscript.

The book stems from a larger effort, led by the Penn State Healthy Parks Healthy People working-group and sponsored by the Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute and the Institutes for Energy and the Environment.

CABI is an international not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.