Forests and health

There is scientific evidence of the positive effects of nature in general, and of forests in particular, on human health and well-being. This was the main topic for discussion at the III International Congress on the Forest and its Potential for Health which took place in Catalonia, 7-10 October 2019. The scientific evidence which was presented spanned from biomedical and neurological to sociological research.

Participants acknowledged that the preservation of the best preserved and mature forests goes hand-in-hand with giving value to the multiple ecosystem services provided by them. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly well known that forests provide significant benefits to human health and well-being. This goes beyond the provision of traditional ecosystem services such as soil protection, water and air purification, carbon storage, and overall resilience to climate change; forests also support landscapes, leisure, spirituality, cultural heritage, and offer many other tangible and intangible benefits to people.

The congress resulted in a declaration which concerns the coordination, realization and diffusion of research on the effects of forests on human health and well-being, promoting networks of forests with a therapeutic function and fostering cooperation between the institutions involved in forest therapy at the international level.

Xabi Buqueras xbuqueras@gencat.cat
Focal Point for the Medforval member site Poblet

12 September 2020