Impact of the Forest Environment on Public Health: Forest Recreation, Forest Therapy, and Forest Bathing

Dear Colleagues,

With advances in technology and civilisation, people are gradually starting to feel more and more disconnected from the natural world, with very negative consequences for health. People are facing new technostresses, and these stresses are threatening their health. It is becoming more and more urgent to reverse this trend and seek solutions to facilitate contact with nature. Nature is as important for people's wellbeing and mental health as it is for society's ability to cope with global change, health risks and disasters. It has been reported that forest bathing/shinrin-yoku reduces mental and physical stress. People need nature in their lives, not only because of the need for health, but also because contact with nature makes them more creative and able to think innovatively. Forest ecosystems are an important place for recreation and leisure, the realisation of physical activity, and they contribute to building good social relations and shaping pro-environmental behaviour. In addition, forests increase people's resilience, protect them from noise and allow them to breathe cleaner air. There is a lot of scientific evidence indicating that nature can help people rebuild, regenerate their psycho-physical strength. By helping people maintain the adaptive resources needed to cope with the demands of life, nature can reduce the risk of chronic stress-related illnesses and promote a range of intermediate values, such as improved wellbeing and focused attention. This Topic aims to highlight the importance of forest ecosystems in promoting public health, as well as to promote awareness of the impact of the forest on human health.

Dr. Emilia Janeczko
Dr. Jitka Fialova
Prof. Dr. Qing Li
Prof. Dr. Chi-Ming Hsieh
Topic Editors