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Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy
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Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2024) | Viewed by 12064

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Won Sop Shin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Social Forestry, School of Forest Resources, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea
Interests: health benefits from forest use; outdoor-based recreation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Besides the traditional economic and ecological function of forests, their health/therapeutic function has gained increasing attention in recent research. Extensive research has provided empirical evidence that forest use or the viewing of forest scenes contributes to reducing stress, promoting more positive moods and feelings, and may facilitate in recovering from illness. The therapeutic effects of a forest can be considered to be the results of a health treatment in or by a forest environment.

Even though empirical studies on forest therapy have been actively conducted in forestry and other fields, more studies have to be conducted to advance and promote science-based forest therapy. Therefore, this Special Issue is aimed at providing selected contributions on advances in identifying therapeutic benefits of forests, the relationship between forest characteristics and therapeutic effects, and applications of forest therapy programs/techniques in various fields.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Therapeutic benefits from direct/indirect use of forests;
  • Forest policy/management relating to forest therapy;
  • Mechanisms of the therapeutic function of forests;
  • Developing a forest therapy program and its effectiveness;
  • Future perspectives for forest therapy practice and research;
  • The role of forest therapy in preventive or public medicine.

Prof. Dr. Won Sop Shin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forests and healing
  • psychological benefits and forests
  • public health
  • preventive medicine
  • therapeutic forests

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 5931 KiB  
Article
Thermal Comfort Simulation-Based Forest Management Scenarios for Forest Healing
by Doyun Song, Sujin Park, Yeonhee Lee and Geonwoo Kim
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1859; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111859 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 862
Abstract
Background and objectives: Forest environments provide various healing benefits for humans and have been widely studied. Nevertheless, the field of forest management for forest healing remains relatively understudied. The purpose of this study is to utilize thermal environmental simulation to derive forest management [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Forest environments provide various healing benefits for humans and have been widely studied. Nevertheless, the field of forest management for forest healing remains relatively understudied. The purpose of this study is to utilize thermal environmental simulation to derive forest management scenarios that are optimized for forest healing. Methods: This study focused on the Seogwipo Experimental Forest on Jeju Island, Korea. Three-dimensional forest models were generated based on field surveys. Thermal environment simulations were conducted using Grasshopper with the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins, and the thermal comfort levels of six forest management scenarios were evaluated using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results: The simulation results showed that, among all the scenarios, only scenario (c), “10% thinning in the buffer zone”, led to an improvement in thermal comfort. Additionally, the study identified discrepancies in thermal comfort between different forest management scenarios. Conclusions: In the management of forests for healing forestry purposes, the distinction of forest zones by use and the application of different forest management scenarios have thermal comfort implications. Thus, the methodology could be employed in forest management for forest healing purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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29 pages, 7734 KiB  
Article
Examination of Exercise Physiological Traits According to Usage Grade of National Forest Trails
by Yeji Choi, Sugwang Lee, Somi Yun and Dae Taek Lee
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111853 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 994
Abstract
Forest trail difficulty levels must be investigated to promote their safe usage. However, exercise-based physiological changes are difficult to estimate in a forest environment. Hence, studies comparing indoor and outdoor environmental activities are required. We aimed to investigate the physiological traits associated with [...] Read more.
Forest trail difficulty levels must be investigated to promote their safe usage. However, exercise-based physiological changes are difficult to estimate in a forest environment. Hence, studies comparing indoor and outdoor environmental activities are required. We aimed to investigate the physiological traits associated with different usage grades of national forest trails in the Republic of Korea. We conducted both field and indoor experiments to measure different variables of 20 healthy participants aged 40–50 years to evaluate the exercise intensity and physiological effects of hiking on these trails. Significant variations in physiological responses were observed based on trail difficulty, with the highest heart rate and energy expenditure recorded during the most challenging uphill segments. Specifically, the heart rate increased from 115.4 ± 13.7 bpm in easy segments to 140.3 ± 15.6 bpm in difficult segments, whereas energy expenditure ranged from 404.1 ± 112.2 kcal/h to 518.1 ± 131.0 kcal/h. This study highlights the importance of considering both objective trail difficulty and users’ physiological reactions, including perceived exertion, to enhance user safety and optimize the health benefits of national forest trails. These findings provide essential data for developing comprehensive exercise programs and improving the national forest trail usage grade system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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19 pages, 22701 KiB  
Article
The Distribution of Climate Comfort Duration for Forest Therapy Has Temporal and Regional Heterogeneity in Xinjiang
by Shuxin Zhu, Ruifeng Wang, Qiya Wang, Su Shao, Hai Lin, Ting Lei, Qingchun Wang and Guofa Cui
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091553 - 3 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1178
Abstract
Climatic comfortability serves as a crucial factor in tourism decision making; however, there remains a gap in evaluating the climate comfort conditions specifically for forest therapy. We developed a new index—Forest Therapy Climate Comfort Index (FTCCI)—to evaluate the climate comfort conditions for forest [...] Read more.
Climatic comfortability serves as a crucial factor in tourism decision making; however, there remains a gap in evaluating the climate comfort conditions specifically for forest therapy. We developed a new index—Forest Therapy Climate Comfort Index (FTCCI)—to evaluate the climate comfort conditions for forest therapy by integrating the Temperature (T), Temperature and Humidity Index (THI), and Wind Efficiency Index (WEI). A total of 26 potential forest therapy bases were selected from the protected areas in Xinjiang and divided into five clusters: Aksu cluster, Hami cluster, Altai cluster, Ili and its surrounding cluster, and Urumqi and its surrounding cluster. Based on the monthly observation data from 25 surface meteorological stations in Xinjiang, spanning from 1994 to 2023, employing the Co-Kriging interpolation method, we explored the spatial–temporal variation in FTCCI from June to September and made clear the climate comfort duration across 26 bases in Xinjiang. The results indicated that (1) The variation in T, THI, and WEI in 26 bases demonstrated a consistent pattern of temporal variation. July emerged as the optimal month, followed closely by August, with most indices in both months falling within the comfort level. Conversely, September proved to be the least favorable month due to frigid conditions and discomfort for the human body, whereas June’s sensation was slightly more tolerable. (2) The distribution of T, THI, and WEI showed regional heterogeneity. The Urumqi and its surrounding cluster displayed the most favorable conditions for forest therapy, whereas the Aksu cluster showed the poorest performance. (3) There were differences in both FTCCI and climate comfort duration among various clusters in Xinjiang. Overall, excluding Tomur Peak and Nalati (July and August), the remaining 24 bases offered ideal climate comfort conditions for forest therapy from mid to late June through August. Notably, the bases in Urumqi and its surrounding cluster had the longest climate comfort duration, ranging from 3.5 to 4 months. Therefore, reliance on the unique climate, resource, and geographical condition of each base is crucial in creating special forest therapy products that cater to the diverse health needs of tourists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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13 pages, 4268 KiB  
Article
Interference Effect of Tree Spacing on Natural Volatile Organic Compound Concentrations Measured Using Passive Samplers
by Doyun Song, Jae Hyoung Cho, SangTae Lee, Sujin Park and Geonwoo Kim
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081368 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
Research highlights: The increasing rates of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic have popularized the notion of access to natural environments as a solution, leading to a surge in demand for urban green spaces. The concentration of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) [...] Read more.
Research highlights: The increasing rates of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic have popularized the notion of access to natural environments as a solution, leading to a surge in demand for urban green spaces. The concentration of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) in forests, resulting from plant metabolism, plays a crucial role in forest-based healing and ecosystem health. Background and objectives: This study aimed to investigate how tree spacing influences NVOC concentrations within forest ecosystems using passive samplers, thereby enhancing the understanding of optimal forest management practices to promote human health benefits. Methods: We employed passive samplers to investigate tree spacing effects on NVOC concentrations. We placed passive samplers among trees in the study area to measure NVOC concentrations in individual trees and analyzed the relationship between NVOC concentration and tree spacing and structure. Results: A multiple regression analysis using distance decay models showed that a tree spacing of 2.7–3 m had a significant impact on NVOC concentrations. These findings provide a better understanding of how tree structure, tree spacing, and microclimate within the forest influence NVOC concentration. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for forest management and the design of forest landscapes to promote human health and well-being by considering the spatial distribution of NVOC concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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15 pages, 13542 KiB  
Article
Effects of Exercise Intensity Differences in Forest Therapy Programs on Immunoglobulin A and Dehydroepiandrosterone Levels in Older Adults
by Min-Ja Shin, Jaeuk U. Kim, Jin-Hee You and Won-Sop Shin
Forests 2024, 15(4), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040577 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1448
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise intensity and the duration of an exercise-based forest therapy program on physiological changes in older adults. The forest therapy program consisted of 20 sessions over 10 weeks. Forty-one older adults aged [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise intensity and the duration of an exercise-based forest therapy program on physiological changes in older adults. The forest therapy program consisted of 20 sessions over 10 weeks. Forty-one older adults aged 65 years and older were divided into no treatment (daily activity group) and experimental (forest therapy) groups. The experimental group was further divided into the medium-intensity forest exercise group and the high-intensity forest exercise group to analyze physiological changes according to exercise intensity and duration. The physiological changes were analyzed by collecting saliva and measuring changes in the levels of immunoglobulin A and dehydroepiandrosterone, a hormone used to predict aging. Changes within the daily activity group and the forest therapy group after their respective exercises were analyzed using paired t-tests. Saliva testing was performed before and in weeks 5 and 10 of the program and analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance to assess the effects of the forest therapy on the medium-intensity forest exercise group and the high-intensity forest exercise group based on the duration of exercise. As a result of the study, a significant increase in immunoglobulin A was observed in the medium-intensity forest exercise group. The daily activity group and the high-intensity forest exercise group showed an increase, but there was very little change and no significance. Changes in dehydroepiandrosterone decreased in the daily activity group and significantly increased in the moderate-intensity forest exercise group at 5 and 10 weeks, showing that regular moderate-intensity forest exercise has an effect on dehydroepiandrosterone. The high-intensity forest exercise group improved over time, but no significant level of change was observed. This study shows that forest exercise has a beneficial effect on immunoglobulin A and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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15 pages, 3133 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Phytoncide Monitoring in Forests: A Comparative Study of SIFT-MS and Conventional GC-MS Methods
by Yeji Choi, Geonwoo Kim, Soojin Kim, Jae Hyoung Cho and Sujin Park
Forests 2023, 14(11), 2184; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112184 - 2 Nov 2023
Viewed by 3031
Abstract
Conventional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis methods for measuring the concentration of phytoncides in forests are limited because of the need for an extended human presence in forests, the risk of errors, and contamination. To overcome these issues, this study introduces real-time measurement [...] Read more.
Conventional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis methods for measuring the concentration of phytoncides in forests are limited because of the need for an extended human presence in forests, the risk of errors, and contamination. To overcome these issues, this study introduces real-time measurement devices and selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) as potential replacements. This study was conducted in the Hongneung Experimental Forest between 19 and 21 November 2019. A correlation analysis and independent samples t-test were performed to compare the GC-MS and SIFT-MS techniques. The diurnal patterns and trends in the phytoncide concentrations analyzed using the GC-MS and SIFT-MS methods were similar, suggesting the potential replacement of GC-MS with SIFT-MS. While both methods revealed similar major components in the daytime nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs), with pinenes comprising approximately half of the total percentage, the 24 h SIFT-MS analysis indicated reduced proportions of pinenes and benzaldehyde, along with the detection of more diverse NVOC compounds at night. Additionally, the studies indicated that GC-MS exhibited slightly higher selectivity, resulting in the detection of fewer NVOC compounds with SIFT-MS. The correlation analysis between the microclimate indicators and phytoncide measurement methods revealed differences: GC-MS with a mini pump showed positive correlations with fine dust and industrially derived VOCs, while the 24 h real-time measurements exhibited strong negative correlations. Consequently, while the GC-MS and SIFT-MS methods exhibited both similarities and differences in phytoncide concentrations, an independent samples t-test, confirming no statistically significant differences between the two methods, suggests the suitability of adopting SIFT-MS over GC-MS for phytoncide collection and analysis in forest environments. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the literature by comparing outdoor phytoncide levels using the GC-MS and SIFT-MS methodologies. These findings, which show that the methods are closely aligned, can guide future researchers in considering SIFT-MS equipment for phytoncide studies, offering a more accessible and efficient option with real-time capabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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Review

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20 pages, 2599 KiB  
Review
Complementarity with Real Forests: A Conceptual Framework and Narrative Review of Multidimensional Effects in Virtual Forests
by Xingxing Jia, Jingcheng Xu, Yucheng Xu, Hongyi Li, Siqi Peng and Bing Zhao
Forests 2024, 15(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010083 - 30 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2021
Abstract
Numerous studies have confirmed the positive impacts of real forests in areas such as stress relief. However, not everyone can visit forests easily. Virtual technologies offer new ways of experiencing forests for people who are hindered by real-life conditions and provide researchers with [...] Read more.
Numerous studies have confirmed the positive impacts of real forests in areas such as stress relief. However, not everyone can visit forests easily. Virtual technologies offer new ways of experiencing forests for people who are hindered by real-life conditions and provide researchers with a manageable mode of study. Recently, there has been an influx of relevant research; however, themes within the overall perspective of the field remain unclear. This study aimed to review the literature and provide an overview of the potential health benefits of virtual forests. Research themes were extracted, and a conceptual framework for the multidimensional effects of virtual forest exposure was proposed from a holistic perspective. We analyzed studies using descriptive analytical methods through the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases and snowball searches. In total, 58 studies were included. This review identified four themes and segments throughout the virtual forest exposure process: core elements, experiences, effects, and circulation. We propose a new conceptual framework for a holistic perspective that incorporates technological features that are specific to virtual environments and makes connections to real forests. Finally, perspectives for future research in virtual forest therapy and its practical implications are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Prospects in Science-Based Forest Therapy)
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