Forests' contribution to human health: a review of Forest Care Initiatives and their impact on people's wellbeing

Urban population is growing worldwide, changing lifestyles and needs. Global society is facing new challenges such as increased stress-related diseases, the loss of connection with community, and neurological disorders about to reach pandemic proportions. Within this framework the contribution of ecosystems to people’s health and wellbeing is gaining momentum. As a consequence, a growing attention is paid to natural therapies, alternative solutions and preventive medicine, witnessed by an increasing research trend on how contact with forests and trees can affect human health and wellbeing. The evidences of positive benefits to people, added to the need to revive the forest sector, brought to a substantial growth of forest care initiatives (FCIs), i.e. organized initiatives supporting active and passive interaction with forest ecosystems aimed at increasing levels of human wellbeing and quality of life. Examples are thriving and include (among others) Shinrin-Yoku in Japan, Welfare Forests in Korea, adventure parks and forest kindergartens.Research recognizes that the specific qualities of environment and our interaction with it can influence the public outcome (good and individual wellbeing). On the contrary research gaps exist with regard to the demand for these new forest-based services and the main factors shaping FCIs and contributing to their success. We conducted a review of literature on FCIs in order to (i) investigate forest ecosystem features/dimensions contributing to human wellbeing and (ii) analyse on a systematic basis studies assessing and quantifying the effects of exposure to forests on human wellbeing. This preliminary study aims to support future in-depth research on factors enabling FCIs and contributing to their success.