# Key Message “During the period 2012–2015 of the EU 7th Framework project ‘‘Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions of Europe” (PHENOTYPE), a systemic conceptual model was formulated using core principles of human ecology (Lawrence, 2001). This model was elaborated during a transdisciplinary research process involving researchers from different disciplines (including biology, human ecology, medicine, land use planning, public health and sociology) and professional practitioners (in landscape architecture, health promotion and urban planning) working in the public or private sectors.” (Lawrence et al., 2019, p. 173) The conceptual model proposed is shown in Figure 7. It is inscribed in a broad multi-level context including environmental conditions at different levels with biological, climatic, ecological, geological, human and physical dimensions at each level. In addition societal conditions have historical precedents that are contextually defined and include cultural, economic, political and social variables at different levels of human experience. ![[CleanShot 2024-11-03 at 13.41.21.png]] Indeed, ==the metaphor of the web of causation has often been replaced by a metaphor of pathways.== This has meant that thinking systemically has been replaced by linear causality. In addition, human agency and the societal conditions of daily life have not been included in some interdisciplinary research that is meant to improve understanding of the complex relationships between contact with public green spaces, individual and collective behaviours and health. This article has suggested and illustrated a different ontological perspective of people – environment relations which is contextual, dynamic and systemic, and then illustrated its application for addressing this complex subject in the future.