Head of the Slovenian part of the transnational project:
- Prof. dr. Sonja Šostar Turk
Participants:
- Doc. dr. Urška Rozman,
- dr. Miha Lavrič.
Coordinator:
- DESTINATURE - AGÊNCIA PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DO TURISMO DE NATUREZA, [iNature], Portugalska
Partners:
- Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za zdravstvene vede, Slovenija
- University of Coimbra, Portugalska
- Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije
- Nacionalni laboratorij za zdravje okolje in hrano, Slovenija
- Medical university of Białystok, Poland
- National Taiwan university, Taiwan
- Lithuanian university of health sciences, Lithuania
- “Self-financed Partner”
- International Society of Forest Therapy, Austria
The PHorestAll project aims to strengthen the link between forest health, human well-being, and biodiversity conservation through nature-based solutions (NBS). Using the concept of "healing forests," it explores the therapeutic potential of different forest ecosystems (alpine, Mediterranean, temperate, subtropical) in five partner countries (Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, Taiwan). The objectives include the development of methodologies for linking human health with biodiversity and soil microbiome, as well as biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from needles and air.
The project integrates science, policy, and practice through approaches such as the FTHub methodology for forest therapy, certification of healing forests, and active involvement of local communities and stakeholders using the JoinUs4Health platform. Research focuses on identifying biological indicators for the therapeutic potential of forests, studying the impact of forest microbiomes and BVOCs on human health, and assessing the effects of therapeutic activities on different demographic groups.
Through the sustainable restoration of forest habitats and research promoting green healthcare (e.g., green prescriptions), the project contributes to improving public health, ecological stability, and biodiversity conservation. PHorestAll promotes innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and stakeholder involvement, thereby supporting a sustainable future.