The 2025 International Conference on Forest Therapy as an Industry is scheduled to gather leading experts and practitioners from Korea, Germany, the European Union, and Taiwan on September 8, 2025, focusing on the industrialization of forest therapy.
Commissioned by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) and organized by the Taiwan Society of Forest Therapy, the conference aims to promote the exchange of strategic insights and practical experiences to inform the global development of forest therapy industries.
This conference gains particular significance for Taiwan, which has already established a comprehensive program integrating forest therapy into public health initiatives, utilizing certified Forest Therapy bases and trained guides. As of July 17, 2025, a total of 89 certified forest therapy practitioners had been trained. In a landmark agreement, the Taiwan Forest Therapy Society (TFTS) and Forest Therapy Hub (FTHub) have partnered to enhance professional development. This collaboration grants Taiwanese Forest Therapy Guides access to FTHub’s international training programs and networks, incorporating FTHub’s science-proven methodologies, including the FTHub Method, its sequences, and the Liquid Interactions Model (LIM Model), to design effective Forest Therapy Interventions within Taiwan’s diverse landscapes.
This partnership reflects a mutual commitment to enhancing the quality and reach of forest therapy, tailoring international standards to local realities, and promoting an exchange of knowledge in both directions.
A key highlight of the conference agenda is the participation of Alex Gesse, Executive Director of Forest Therapy Hub (FTHub), who will deliver a lecture titled “Insights and Experience from Global Collaborations and Within the EU” from 11:20am to 11:50 am.
FTHub is recognized as a leading international organization in nature-based health and well-being, dedicated to integrating scientific rigor with practical training. The organization trained and keeps supporting professionals and institutions across more than 80 countries.
During his presentation, Alex will offer a deep exploration of the international insights and strategic lessons acquired by FTHub through its extensive global collaborations, with a particular focus on partnerships and projects funded by the European Union.
Key areas of his lecture will include:
- The pivotal role of the Forest Therapy Institute Research Lab by FTHub, described as a dynamic innovation and research center that bridges cutting-edge science with applied practice.
- Advancements in FTHub’s methodologies, particularly the development of the LIM Model for Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy. This model is currently the only nature-based intervention model validated by large-scale, EU-funded scientific studies.
- Important collaborations within the European Union, including Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe initiatives, where FTHub works with universities, local governments, and NGOs to co-create nature-based solutions addressing critical societal challenges such as mental health, social inclusion, and sustainability.
Alex also co-leads two significant European Union-funded research projects:
- NATURELAB, a €6 million grant project focusing on the design, implementation, and validation of nature-based therapies. This project is being carried out across Europe, Asia, and America.
- PHorestAll, a €1 million grant project that explores the connection between forest health, biodiversity, and human well-being, aiming to identify “Healing Forests” and promote forests as nature-based solutions for global health and environmental challenges. As a key example of the steps forward in this collaboration, Taiwan is an essential partner in this initiative, contributing local expertise and insights that help bridge global research with regional application. PHorestAll is active across Europe, Asia, and America, exemplifying the power of global cooperation in advancing forest-based solutions.
Drawing on this extensive international experience, Alex’s lecture will outline best practices for establishing robust cross-sector alliances and creating supportive ecosystems that are crucial for strengthening the forest therapy sector globally.
The conference, which quickly filled its limited free seats due to high demand, delves into key topics such as healthy aging, therapeutic site design, transnational collaboration, policy integration, and regional revitalization. Its overarching aim is to advance the institutionalization and industrialization of forest therapy worldwide.
FTHub’s influence in Asia, especially China, has grown impressively through a strategic blend of academia, dialogue, and immersive exchange. Its collaboration with Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University launched a pathway for joint teaching, research, and innovation in green education and nature-based well-being.
This connection deepened during the 2024 International Conference hosted by the same university, where FTHub contributed insights into integrating forest therapy with industry, education, research, and practical applications. Complementing theory with practice, FTHub also delivered experiential forest therapy in Beijing’s Badaling National Forest Park, helping bridge research and meaningful experience. Further anchoring its work locally, FTHub’s insights extended to a visit to the Forest Therapy Stations in Fuzhou, reinforcing the integration of global expertise with place-based initiatives.
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