Forest ecosystem services for human health | Theory and practice from Southern Europe

Background

Forest bathing is an increasingly popular activity in many Protected Areas. Courses for Protected Area staff to accompany people in such experiences are gaining popularity all over Europe. Science confirms that nature is a great tool to boost well-being and prevent ill-health. But what research is behind it? What protocols are underpinning the nature immersion sessions? And how does forest bathing differ from similar practices such as forest therapy or the wild ways well approach embedded in HPHPe?

In this webinar – organised by the Healthy Parks Healthy People Commission –  we showcased the stories and contributions of two public bodies – the government of Catalonia and the Italian National Research Council, Institute of Bioeconomy. Our speakers shared their expertise and explain the genesis and development of research and practical actions on the ground (incl. testing protocols) to improve the health and well-being of the population through forest ecosystem services in Protected Areas and elsewhere.

The event was moderated by Peter Rawcliffe, Chair of the Healthy Parks Healthy People Commission.

Programme

Welcome and introduction

Anna Castelli, EUROPARC Federation and Peter Rawcliffe, Chair of the Healthy Parks Healthy People Commission.

CASE STUDIES

The Health & Nature Programme of the General Directorate of Environmental Policies and the Natural Environment of Catalonia. Health and therapeutic itineraries.

Pilar Vendrell Sales, Government of Catalonia

Learn more from the incredibly rich and diverse experience from the Generalitat de Catalunya

Evidence Building and Support for Forest Healing Services in Italy.

Francesco Meneguzzo and Federica Zabini, Institute of Bioeconomy of the National Research Council of Italy

Learn more from the groundbreaking research and field work of the Italian National Research Council

Contributions from our audience

Abigail – AWT Team Wilder shares that Natural England have been a developing a Standard Evaluation Framework for natural health practice/interventions (SEF). The work is ongoing and more information about the process can be received by reaching out Natural England

Linda Blätter shares a recent paper “The socioeconomic dimension of forest therapy: A contribution to human well-being and sustainable forest” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719324002371?via%3Dihub

Magi Pilcher – (SVK) – Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia – “we carried out research and interventions with older adults and how time spent in the forest affects their cognitive functions, HRV changes, change in cortisol levels at the beginning and the end of interventions (to be published yet)” and shares “Forests serve vulnerable groups in times of crises: improved mental health of older adults by individual forest walking during the COVID-19 pandemic” https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1287266

Francisco Díaz (ESP) – Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Murcia, Spain (www.pehsu.org). “In our work group, we have worked with pediatric populations with neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood cancer survivors in nature-based therapies. In addition, we conducted a review of how nature therapies improve addiction treatments. Here I share with you some of our work”: https://www.analesdepediatria.org/en-effects-forest-therapy-on-salivary-articulo-S2341287923002338 and https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ehpm/29/0/29_24-00145/_article/-char/en

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