Special issue "Forest, Trees, Human Health and Wellbeing"

Abstract

Forest and trees are essential not only for their ecological and economical values, but also for human health and wellbeing. There can be psychological, physiological and social benefits from both direct and indirect contact. This Special Issue presents up-to-date research on how forests and trees can support people’s health and wellbeing through prevention, promotion or interventions. It aims to gather systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the topic, study protocols, theoretical and/or conceptual papers as well as empirical studies. The study design may vary from randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, case studies and evaluation of best practices. Papers can focus on how forest environments or trees can support affordances, activities or experiences in support of human health and wellbeing. The papers can explore these topics from both the perspective of the individual or from a broader societal perspective. The focus of this Special Issue will be on health-promoting mechanisms that are mediated via the direct perception or interaction with trees and forest environments, rather than on purely physically mediated effects.

Keywords

health and wellbeing; forest planning; green infrastructure; restoration; stress reduction; biodiversity; landscape; perception; nature connectedness; forest bathing; forest guiding; forest therapy; public health urban forest shinrin-yoku

Published in

Forests
2024
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Editors

• Palsdottir, Anna Maria

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Grahn, Patrik

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Stoltz, Jonathan

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Landscape Architecture
Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Forest Science

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129146