1st International Conference on Forest Therapy
Held online from July 7–9, 2022, the first International Conference on Forest Therapy brought together researchers, health professionals, practitioners, educators, and institutional partners to examine how forest therapy can develop as an evidence-informed field and be implemented effectively across different communities and settings.
Conference focus
- Research and evidence: Current knowledge on how nature and forest-based experiences can support mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
- Institutional context: The roles of universities, healthcare, public agencies, professional organizations, and community partners in advancing forest therapy.
- Professional practice: Approaches to training, program delivery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and responsible implementation.
- Future development: International dialogue on strengthening research, professional standards, public-health integration, and wider access to forest therapy.
Why the conference mattered
The three-day conference helped connect scientific research with practical experience. Through keynote presentations and international exchange, participants explored how forest therapy can move from promising evidence to well-designed programs that promote wellbeing while responding to local cultural, environmental, and institutional conditions.
Date: July 7–9, 2022
Format: Online via Zoom
Original organizer: UBC Faculty of Forestry, Multidisciplinary Institute of Nature Therapy