Across forests in Europe and Asia, people are stepping away from fast-paced routines and rediscovering something increasingly valuable in modern life: meaningful connection with nature. This is the driving force behind PHorestAll, an international research initiative exploring how therapeutic forests can support human health and well-being.
The PHorestAll project is now running forest therapy interventions across five countries – Portugal, Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania, and Taiwan- applying the FTHub Method and its 5 Components of Nature-Based Interventions in selected forests to build the scientific evidence base for what researchers are calling “healing forests.”
What PHorestAll Is Studying, and Why It Matters
PHorestAll aims to identify the characteristics of therapeutic forests, investigating the link between forest biodiversity, air quality, and human well-being. By implementing the FTHub Method, the project uses its components to run structured interventions with the goal of standardising protocols and integrating forest therapy into public health policies. The result is a more human-centred, interdisciplinary study of forests not only as ecosystems, but as environments that can support human health.
Perspectives from Poland and Slovenia
The implementation of the FTHub Method is already producing notable experiences for both participants and trainers. Beyond collecting research data, the interventions are creating spaces where people can slow down and reconnect with nature.
Building Mindful Engagement With Nature In Poland
FTHub Poland representative and Trainer Marta Grabowska, reflects on the project so far:
“We are now at the halfway point of the PhorestAll project, carried out in collaboration with the Medical University of Białystok. For me personally, this project has been, above all, a lesson in attentiveness, curiosity, and commitment. I continue to be fascinated by how much can emerge from simple experiences that we rarely make time for in our everyday lives. I am entering the second half of the project with openness, interest, and hope. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness this process unfold without rushing it, allowing it to develop at its own pace.”
Her reflection points to an important dimension of the project: while the research seeks to understand measurable relationships between forests and well-being, the interventions themselves encourage participants to build a more mindful engagement with nature.
What a Rainy Session in Slovenia Revealed About the FTHub Method
In Slovenia, FTHub Trainer Jerneja Lešnik points to the adaptability of the FTHub Method, and notes that some of the most significant sessions occurred during unexpected weather:
“We’ve had 5 out of 6 planned PhorestAll sessions so far, and throughout the sessions we connected really well. The most memorable ones were actually the least expected — one right after the rain and another when it started raining while we were already in the forest. The energy in both moments was incredible, really uplifting and connecting. What surprised me most was that a session I would normally postpone because of the weather turned out to be one of the best.”
For Jerneja, these sessions point to something deeper about what participants are looking for:
“It reminded me of two things. Firstly, how powerful it is to simply embrace nature since there ‘is no bad weather, we just need to be well prepared’. And secondly, that people are missing the authentic and deep connection with the forest in their daily lives and forest therapy is giving them a valuable space to restore this innate connection.”
From Field Sessions to Evidence: What Cross-Regional Patterns Are Emerging
What the shared methodological model is revealing is that certain patterns appear across different regions and cultures. Participants from varied backgrounds report memorable connections with nature, while trainers highlight the value of providing dedicated spaces for reflection and well-being. These observations will be central to PHorestAll’s continued work exploring how forest therapy can contribute to healthier people, healthier ecosystems, and a more resilient relationship between the two.
The international scope of this project opens doors for collaboration. Researchers and organisations with an interest in therapeutic forests, public health, Planetary Health, and nature-based interventions are invited to follow the PHorestAll project’s progress at FTHub and reach out for potential partnerships.
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FAQ
What is the PHorestAll project?
PHorestAll is a Biodiversa+ funded research initiative exploring how forests support human health through elements such as soil microbiomes and air quality. FTHub leads nature-based intervention sessions across five forests in Portugal, Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania, and Taiwan, using its structured methodology to gather comparable data across regions.
What is the FTHub Method and how is it used in PHorestAll?
The FTHub Method is a structured, science-based approach to facilitating human-nature connection for health and well-being outcomes. In PHorestAll, it provides a standardised framework for running Forest Therapy sessions across different countries, ensuring the data collected is comparable and the protocols replicable.
What are the goals of forest therapy research in Europe?
Forest therapy research in Europe is working toward standardised protocols that could support the integration of nature-based interventions into public health policy. Projects like PHorestAll are gathering field evidence on measurable outcomes — from well-being indicators to biodiversity metrics — to build the case for therapeutic forests as a public health resource.
Can organisations or researchers collaborate on PHorestAll?
Yes. FTHub actively invites researchers and organisations with an interest in therapeutic forests, public health, Planetary Health, and nature-based interventions to reach out regarding potential collaboration and to follow the project’s progress.
