3rd International Conference on Forest Therapy
The 3rd International Conference on Forest Therapy will be held from July 09-12, 2027 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Under the theme From Mechanisms to Medicine and Standards: Shaping the Future of Forest Therapy, ICFT 2027 will bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, practitioners, policymakers, educators, and innovators to help shape the next stage of forest therapy as a trusted, evidence-informed international field.
Conference focus
The conference will examine how forest therapy works, how scientific evidence can be translated into medicine and public health, and how credible standards can support responsible professional practice. It will connect research, clinical application, cultural knowledge, community development, and emerging technology through six interconnected themes.
- Evidence-based forest therapy and clinical translation: Physiological, psychological, and neurobiological mechanisms, clinical studies, biomarkers, intervention design, and measurable health outcomes.
- From evidence to economy: The role of research and professional standards in developing credible forest wellness destinations, therapeutic services, cross-sector models, and sustainable community economies.
- The science of forest factors: How phytoncides, negative air ions, soundscapes, lightscapes, microclimates, and visual landscapes may influence human health and wellbeing.
- Prescribing nature: Integration of forest therapy and green prescriptions into primary care, mental health services, rehabilitation, prevention, referral pathways, and public health policy.
- Traditional ecological knowledge and forest therapy: Ethical research, cultural protocols, community voices, knowledge sovereignty, and the contribution of Indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge systems.
- AI and technology in forest therapy: Responsible applications of artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, biomonitoring, virtual and augmented reality, soundscape simulation, and digital health platforms.
Why ICFT 2027 matters
ICFT 2027 is designed to move the international conversation from promising evidence toward trusted implementation. The conference will support dialogue on scientific credibility, clinical translation, professional education, ethical governance, ecological responsibility, cultural respect, public health integration, and standards that can guide the field’s long-term development.
For the International Council of Forest Therapy, the third conference provides an important global forum for connecting evidence with standards, training, certification, and responsible innovation. It also creates opportunities for institutions and professionals across different regions and disciplines to exchange knowledge and contribute to the future of forest therapy.
Date: July 09-12, 2027
Location: 2424 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Theme: From Mechanisms to Medicine and Standards: Shaping the Future of Forest Therapy
Host: UBC Faculty of Forestry