Background
Nature-Based Therapy involves more than simply being in nature. It creates opportunities to practice mindfulness by moving and walking in nature; participating in gardening and horticulture activities; and spending time observing, exploring and reflecting on their perceptions and emotions about nature. NATURELAB contributes to the call to establish scientifically validated programmes that support people to connect with nature in ways designed to respond to their specific needs.
Objectives
NATURELAB has 8 objectives:
- Develop methodologies and scientific evidence for the causal understanding of relationships between nature-based interventions and health and well-being benefits and their short-, medium- and long-term effects;
- Identify mediators of the relationship between health and exposure to nature - e.g., age, gender, socio-economic status, cultural context, previous experience and contact with nature, and nature connectedness;
- Define a framework of indicators to classify forests, urban parks, and horticultural and gardening according to their potential to contribute to health and well-being. Develop and provide guidelines for the design and exploitation of Healing Gardens;
- Deliver tested and validated programmes for nature-based prescriptions using forests, urban parks and horticulture and gardening to address the specific health and well-being needs of people from different cultures, geographical location, age, gender, socio-economic status and other individual characteristics;
- Promote the creation and management of nature areas, ecosystem services and biodiversity protection inside and around urban areas for multiple purposes: health and well-being benefits, citizens education, environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- Design and disseminate innovative educational and training materials and guidelines, exploring the opportunities for the creation of new jobs - Green Therapists and jobs in the horticulture and gardening industries;
- Develop and provide tailored guidelines to policymakers, authorities, city designers, and the public and private healthcare, social and educational sectors for the adoption of nature-based therapy;
- Establish tools and guidelines for the integration of nature-based care in the public health sector.
Approach
NATURELAB proposes an integrative and innovative approach to health and care prevention. We will enhance and expand the green and blue areas' benefits, such as the resilience to climate change, the promotion of biodiversity and urban water management. The consortium will collaborate closely with stakeholders, such as medical, healthcare, social and educational sectors, municipalities, NGOs, and communities. Together, we aim to provide solutions that improve health and well-being, while promoting the protection of biodiversity and sustainability of rural, coastal, and urban regions.
The project covers 5 countries (Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Germany and Peru), in 2 continents, Europe and Latin America. In these climatically and geographically different countries, around 4000 participants of all ages, from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and with differing health needs will be offered nature-based therapy at 15 NATURELAB sites located in rural, coastal, and urban areas. This strategy will guarantee an inclusive social representation and help to analyse the potential of nature-based therapy in different contexts.
Lessons and outcomes
Ultimately, the project will deliver:
- Nature-based therapy programmes adjusted to different population needs;
- Portfolio to classify nature’s healing potential and guidelines to analyse the health benefits provided by green areas;
- Guidelines for the development and maintenance of private and public healing gardens, gardening spaces that can provide climate resilience and environmental sustainability;
- Programme guide for financing strategies to support nature-based therapy in the health sector;
- Guidelines to promote the integration of nature-based therapy care in the public health sector.
At the end, approximately 600 health professionals worldwide will receive the NATURELAB nature-based therapy programme training. Additionally, around 10.000 innovative educational materials will be delivered. Furthermore, the project will develop new jobs that support nature-based therapies, such as therapists, horticulture, and gardening positions.