Korea Forest Welfare Institute (FoWI), a pioneering public organization under the Korean Forest Service, was founded in 2016 to address the burgeoning need for forest welfare services among the population. Recognizing the importance of continual learning and innovation, FoWI has selected Forest Therapy Hub to enhance their well known expertise. FoWI has participated in the FHub Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapy Practitioner training, coming closer to the FTHub Five Components for Nature-based interventions and also further expanding their capacity for diverse communities.
The organization, born as a the result of the efforts of former Minister of Forestry Won Sop Shin, Ph.D., research professor at Chungbuk National University, provides forest welfare services tailored to various stages of human life in Korea, including forest prenatal education, childhood forest experiences, and forest therapy programs.
Through initiatives like the National Center for Forest Therapy and National Healing Forest, FoWI promotes healthy living and equal access to natural benefits for all citizens. It manages a green fund project to ensure universal forest welfare, focusing on reducing discrimination and providing equal opportunities. And its Forest Welfare R&D Center conducts research to scientifically validate forest welfare effects and develop practical applications, such as healthy food menus using forest healing resources.
Incorporating new insights and resources, FoWI and Forest Therapy Hub contribute to a broader movement towards integrative well-being and environmental stewardship. This is the kind of exchange we believe in, for a future where forests play a central role in nurturing healthier, happier communities.
World Forum of Forest Therapy
FTHub participated in the World Forum on Forest Therapy (WFoFT) 2024, one of the most significant events on Forest Therapy in the world, from October 28 – 30, in Daejeon, Korea, where researchers, scholars, policymakers, practitioners, NGOs, and enthusiasts gathered for sharing knowledge and building the future of the practice.
Organized by Korea Forest Therapy Forum/Chungbuk National University and Korea Forest Welfare Institute, the event is supported by the Korea Forest Service, the National Institute of Forest Science, Art Fore, Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute, and Korea Mountaineering Support Center.
FTHum team led by Executive Director and trainer Alex Gesse presented FTHub’s global perspective, focusing on the 5 Components of Nature-based Interventions selected for large-scale research across diverse populations, and on how ‘Sciencewashing’ can distort the integrity and true impact of nature-based practices without a rigorous, evidence-backed foundation.
The World Forum of Forest Therapy was a celebratory moment, reconnecting with friends and collaborators who participate in FTHub initiatives, such as the Summer School trainings.
