Healing trees: Iberian Peninsula's first therapeutic forest is in Portugal
There are only four of these forests in the entire world, and Portugal has one of them. The Bussaco National Forest has now officially received Therapeutic Forest certification. It is the first on the Iberian...
There are only four of these forests in the entire world, and Portugal has one of them. The Bussaco National Forest has now officially received Therapeutic Forest certification. It is the first on the Iberian Peninsula, joining Beneddiktinerstift in Austria and Lahnstein and Bad Nauheim in Germany.
After years in an implementation phase, the certification, granted by the Healing Forest - International Certification Office, on 17 July, recognises the qualities of this Portuguese forest, located 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," stressed the president of the Bussaco Forest Foundation, Gonçalo Breda Marques, quoted by the Lusa news agency.
The Bussaco Forest covers 105 hectares and, according to the foundation of the same name, "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," can be read on the website. (source in Portuguese)
The certification is valuable both for patients and forest therapists, and strengthens the site's role in health tourism.
What makes a forest a therapeutic place?
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 programmes in these spaces, which can be beneficial in the treatment of disabling diseases, having a positive influence on conventional therapies.
For these forests to have such properties, they must meet a set of criteria (source in Portuguese), such as having 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 as well as relaxation exercises.
The certification process involves several stages. The first consists of submitting basic information and documentation about the site, after which the process moves on to a technical inspection by a team from the certification office, which assesses its potential for therapeutic use. Once the first two stages have been completed, an assessment is carried out based on the defined criteria and the characteristics of the forest under review, leading up to the award of the certificate, which is valid for a limited period. In the case of the Bussaco Forest, the certification is valid until 2031.
According to the same body, these outdoor practices can bring a number of scientifically proven (source in Portuguese) 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.
Forest bathing
The idea that an immersive experience in a forest area can be beneficial is not new. The so-called "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 programme 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 serves as a health practice similar to other long-standing recommendations, such as the need for 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, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, psychosomatic, orthopaedic or neurological diseases.
The Forest Therapy Hub (source in Portuguese) is one of the organisations that provides training and accreditation for these professionals, explaining that 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".
