The project Back to Nature, funded by the EU, will hold its next transnational meeting in Lisbon on 18–19 September 2025. The two-day event will gather two participants from each partner organisation: the Secondary School of Forestry, Woodworking and Healthcare Postojna (Slovenia), the Poenta Association (Serbia), and the Forest Therapy Hub (Portugal), which is also preparing and hosting the meeting. Manuela Renzi, FTHub’s Training Director and member of the FTI Lab by FTHub, will participate alongside Sonia Juarez, FTHub’s financial responsible for EU funds, and Alex Gesse, Executive Director, bringing their strong expertise in training and research to the discussions.
Back to Nature focuses on empowering young people to prevent addictions through Forest Therapy, integrating research with direct nature-based practices. In Lisbon, partners will review progress, exchange findings, and plan the next steps, including a six-day training in Slovenia led by Manuela Renzi and Inga Dreimane, and the development of a Handbook on Forest Therapy for Addiction Prevention, expected by November 2025.
As a partner, Forest Therapy Hub contributes its expertise not only in training and implementation but also in research. Through the Forest Therapy Institute Lab by FTHub, FTHub coordinates a network of organisations to conduct international studies on the health impacts of nature exposure, developing methodologies and implementations all over the world.
This meeting in Lisbon is, besides a key coordination point, part of a broader effort to ground youth wellbeing strategies in evidence-based practices, ensuring that nature-based interventions are both accessible and effective.
Through FTHub’s method, attention naturally returns to breath, the natural surroundings, and a felt sense of belonging. Through a series of simple, immersive nature experiences, the body gradually releases stress, establishing a gentle rhythm that can be practised daily, helping to build resilience and a sense of meaning through connection with nature.
Act now, enrolling in our Forest Bathing Guide Training and Forest Therapy Practitioner Training. Grow together, equipping you with essential skills to lead transformative experiences in nature.
