Fig. 1.

Schematic of the complex relationships between altered environmental conditions and human health. Drivers of global environmental change (e.g., land-use change, resource scarcity, or climate change) can directly pose health risks or impair ecosystem services that subsequently influence health. Population level vulnerability, however, will be modified by multiple layers of social or infrastructure barriers that can buffer or eliminate risks associated with these exposures. Together, all components must be considered to achieve realistic assessments of population vulnerability.