Forest therapy: Caring for youth and nature

by Claudio Araneda, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile

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Summary

The forests of the Nonguén Valley, located on the outskirts of the city of Concepción, in Chile, create micro-climates favourable to the sustainability of the local watershed environment. They regulate the water cycle, contribute to the overall quality of the soil, and capture carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. But they can do more. Scientific literature suggests that forests can have positive effects on people’s mental health, particularly youth. Today, the Nonguén forests are threatened by increased urbanization and other detrimental human activities. In response to this problem, a team of women leaders, including a landscape architect/ecologist and a psychologist, created a special initiative that draws on the power of forests to promote youth mental health. Indeed, this initiative seeks to enhance both the mental health of a group of young people as well as their awareness of the importance of preserving the forests of the Nonguén Reserve.

The initiative was launched in January 2020, and 20 participants registered — mostly graduate students from the Universidad del Bío-Bío. Seven sessions were planned. Unfortunately, the implementation of the activities was inhibited by a series of challenges: a forest fire, the public health restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, and the onset of a life-threatening illness in one of the project leaders. In the face of these contingencies, the workshop was shifted online. Surprisingly, the methodological framework planned for the onsite activities proved adaptable and successful in an online setting. This means that part of the initiative’s objectives was achieved via digital communications, in despite of significant restrictions.

Description

The Nonguén Valley is home to the Nonguén River, an important resource for the Concepción region. Upstream, the Nonguén National Park occupies the eastern part of the valley. It hosts and protects unique animal species, as well as the last remnant of deciduous forest in the region. The Cordillera de la Costa occupies the Western slopes of the valley, an area along the watershed that is still largely forested as well. In a region where water deficits and droughts are being exacerbated by climate change, these forests create a favourable micro-climate for watersheds to thrive. They regulate the water cycle, contribute to the overall quality of the soil, and capture carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The area downstream, however, is rapidly urbanizing. The downtown of Concepción is located just six kilometers away and urban sprawl has now reached the valley. Human activity such as real estate development, illegal logging, and irresponsible pet ownership is threatening the forests.

The situation in the Nonguén Valley highlights the importance of safeguarding forests for watershed conservation. This local forest therapy initiative seeks to contribute to the conservation of natural environments by cultivating young people’s affective bond with the natural ecosystem. It rests on the implementation of a Shinrin-Yoku (SY) workshop, also named “forest therapy.” SY is a traditional Japanese practice that consists in mindfully using all five senses to immerse oneself in nature. SY surfaced in Japanese medicine in the 1980s as a pivotal component of preventive healthcare and healing. The practice has now reached other countries. As a result, different outdoor activities have been incorporated into publicly-funded therapeutic programs in a variety of settings. Scientific studies have proven that forest therapy modalities such as SY have benefits for human health and well-being, especially for boosting the immune system and mental health (see review by Hansen et al. 2017).

This SY initiative aims to encourage young people in the Nonguén community to come into closer contact with nature as a strategy for dealing with detachment and lack of awareness regarding forest conservation. The workshop shared knowledge with students on the following topics: Biodiversity of the Nonguén Forest, Forest Therapy, Shinrin-Yoku practice, and breathing and contemplation techniques. It was conceived as an eminently immersive activity. The main activity consists of a practice of guided observation, with an emphasis on a set of therapeutic experiences related to forest therapy. Six practical sessions were planned in the Nonguén National Park. The first centred on experiential activities central to forest therapy, such as contemplation, conscious breathing, and relaxation. The second, conducted in groups, consisted in creating a forest therapy experience for others based on the findings of the first session. The following sessions involved practicing the same kinds of exercises in pairs. The last session was a plenary discussion, where the participants presented their results to the group. A key principle was that this experience, once lived, could then be transferred to others.

Local Implementation and Evolution

A team of women — Soraya Bravo (project leader and head of local environmental organization Conserva Nonguén), Gabriela Iglesias (psychologist and Shinrin-yoku therapist), and Javiera Delaunoy (landscape architect) — began conceptualizing and planning the activities in January 2020. They planned seven sessions, including introductory talks and onsite workshops. They then divided the responsibility of moderating the workshops. Each planned the activities and materials for their respective workshops. The groundwork included the selection of spaces for onsite talks and trails for nature walks in the Nonguén National Park. It also included the preparation of audiovisual material (flipcharts, PowerPoint presentations, etc.). Conserva Nonguén oversaw the logistics, including transportation and food.

The team then disseminated a call for participants, hanging posters in busy local places such as schools, the public clinic, a few grocery stores, and the neighbourhood leaders’ meeting centre. They also posted the call to social media and featured it at a talk on Chilean forests. Candidates were asked to submit letters of interest. The team selected and invited 20 participants for the first workshop. Most of them were graduate students from the Universidad del Bío-Bío and roughly half had participated in other forest-related workshops with the organizers.

However, on the same day that the workshop was set to begin in January 2020, a forest fire broke out in the Nonguén National Reserve, causing the closure of the reserve. It was initially set to remain closed until November 2020. Unfortunately, a large part of the financial resources had already been spent on expenses such as travel, food, lodging, and materials. Further restrictions imposed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 led to the closure of the reserve for an even longer period.

However, in August 2020, the leader of this initiative organized an online workshop titled “Therapeutic Forest: theoretical, methodological, and practical bases” for the closing event of the “Vive tus parques” program, organized by the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) and the National Youth Institute (INJUV). More than 300 young people participated. The leader gave a general introduction to forest therapy and conducted a guided meditation/contemplation exercise, inviting participants to focus on the natural objects they had around them. The participants’ positive evaluation of the online activity indicates that part of the objectives of the forest therapy project — namely, those related to guided observation and visualization experiences — were achieved.

When the reserve finally reopened to the public, almost a year later, another workshop was planned for October 2021. This time, however, the initiative was stalled again as Soraya Bravo, the project leader, was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Since in-person experience is irreplaceable for the project objectives, the organizers decided to wait until it was possible to meet onsite, opting not to use remote communication channels.

Stakeholder participation

The team of women leaders ensured thorough preparation for the workshop and onsite activities. Strong ties of friendship exist within the team, which has helped ensure good communication throughout the process and has upheld a high level of momentum. Universidad del Bío-Bío researchers, affiliated with ADAPTO, provided the funding and contributed to the preparation and dissemination of the activities in the university. The women leaders facilitated the onsite workshops. The National Forestry Commission provided the space in Nonguén National Park where the activities took place. Local organizations such as schools and the community library collaborated with the dissemination of the call for participants by advertising it on social media.

Despite the high level of coordination and preparation, the incredible number of unforeseen circumstances forced the suspension of the workshop series. Recent attempts to bring it to completion were foiled once again by the project leader’s severe health issues. She however remains as committed as ever and the project’s implementation now depends on her post-treatment recovery.

Future actions and replicability

Despite all the difficulties faced in the implementation of the project, Soraya Bravo believes the participants have remained interested. One of the reasons is that the pandemic and related social distancing measures have exacerbated mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Consequently, they have emphasized the need for stronger bonds with nature. Soraya Bravo remains committed to leading the pending onsite activities as soon as her health permits.

Despite all the difficulties faced in the implementation of the project, Soraya Bravo believes the participants have remained interested. One of the reasons is that the pandemic and related social distancing measures have exacerbated mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Consequently, they have emphasized the need for stronger bonds with nature. Soraya Bravo remains committed to leading the pending onsite activities as soon as her health permits.

Additional information