There are only four certified therapeutic forests in the world, and one of them is now in Portugal.
The Bussaco National Forest has officially received Therapeutic Forest certification, becoming the first site on the Iberian Peninsula to do so. It joins Beneddiktinerstift in Austria and Lahnstein and Bad Nauheim in Germany.
The certification was granted on 17 July by the Healing Forest, International Certification Office, after years in an implementation phase. It recognises the qualities of the Portuguese forest in the parish of Luso, in the municipality of Mealhada.
“This certification, which places us in the group of the four therapeutic forests in the world and as the first on the Iberian Peninsula, gives us global status and brings with it a great responsibility,” Bussaco Forest Foundation president Gonçalo Breda Marques said, quoted by Lusa.
The Bussaco Forest covers 105 hectares and, according to the foundation, “has one of the best dendrological collections in Europe, with around 250 species of trees and shrubs”.
“It is one of the national forests richest in natural, architectural and cultural heritage and can be divided into four landscape units: the Arboretum, the Gardens and Valley of the Ferns, the Relict Forest and the Marquês Pinewood,” the foundation says on its website.
According to the Healing Forest, International Certification Office, therapeutic forests are forest areas designed for therapeutic use in specific indications. Qualified therapists are available to oversee treatments or specific programs in these spaces, which can support the treatment of disabling diseases and have a positive influence on conventional therapies.
To qualify, forests must meet a set of criteria, including natural structures that provide noise reduction and visual and wind protection, trails with different levels of demand and difficulty, and areas set aside for therapeutic applications and relaxation exercises.
The certification process starts with the submission of basic information and documentation about the site. It then moves to a technical inspection by a team from the certification office, which assesses its potential for therapeutic use. After that, the site is assessed against the defined criteria and the characteristics of the forest under review before the certificate is awarded for a limited period.
In the case of Bussaco Forest, the certification is valid until 2031.
According to the same body, these outdoor practices can bring scientifically proven benefits, including improved cognitive abilities, reduced stress, anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system and better sleep quality. Most of the research carried out over the last decade comes from Asian countries.
The idea that an immersive experience in a forest area can be beneficial is not new. “Forest bathing” is a direct translation of the Japanese term shinrin-yoku and was developed in Japan in 1982 as part of a national health program designed to reduce stress levels among the Japanese population.
The concept is close to a wellbeing or mindfulness practice led by guides, without necessarily targeting a specific medical indication, and is presented as a health practice similar to recommendations such as a healthy diet or regular physical exercise.
Forest therapy, by contrast, is a more clinically formalised practice, led by accredited forest therapists and sometimes linked to specific medical and therapeutic indications, including cardiovascular, respiratory, psychosomatic, orthopaedic or neurological diseases.
The Forest Therapy Hub, one of the organisations that provides training and accreditation for these professionals, says forest therapy aims to “promote positive states of mental health and improve physical and social health, strengthening the connection with nature, interpersonal relationships and social cohesion”.
Read more from Euro News.
