Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RESONATE (Building individual and community RESilience thrOugh NATurE-based therapies)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-06-01 bis 2024-11-30
Natural environments, such as urban parks, can help reduce stressors like air pollution, heat, and noise. Nature-based Solutions use nature to tackle these stressors, helping communities become more resilient. On an individual level, interacting with nature boosts resilience to stress. When these interventions are specifically used to promote personal resilience and health, they are called Nature-based Therapies (NbTs). These therapies are increasingly being used to manage chronic conditions like depression and cardiovascular disease. However, there are still many unanswered questions about NbTs, including their effectiveness, equity, social acceptance, enablers/barriers, cost-effectiveness, market potential, and sustainability. Working with other European- and global initiatives, RESONATE addresses these questions to develop an accessible toolbox with evidence and ‘What Works’ guidelines. These resources aim to assist stakeholders in health, environment, finance, and social sectors in developing and implementing scientifically sound NbTs in various contexts.
Our specific goals are to:
• build stronger causal evidence of how nature supports health and resilience.
• increase awareness and acceptance of NbTs among various stakeholders.
• show how stakeholders can collaborate to implement acceptable and inclusive NbTs.
• promote cost-effective NbTs that foster resilient individuals and communities.
Our specific goals are to:
• build stronger causal evidence of how nature supports health and resilience.
• increase awareness and acceptance of NbTs among various stakeholders.
• show how stakeholders can collaborate to implement acceptable and inclusive NbTs.
• promote cost-effective NbTs that foster resilient individuals and communities.
Eighteen months in, RESONATE has successfully completed 7 Deliverables and reached 15 key Milestones. Here is an overview of the progress across the project’s work packages (WPs): WP1 is responsible for project management, ensuring efficient management through annual in-person meetings, monthly online meetings with all partners, and consultations with our International Expert Advisory Board (IEAB) and sister EU-funded NbT projects. WP2 takes a global scope and has included around 140 studies in a global scoping review of NbTs, creating an online map of these programmes. WP2 also led a systematic search strategy to support other WPs and a cross-consortium exercise to develop a common Glossary of Terms. WP3 supports the nine Case Studies (CSs) exploring different types of NbTs across diverse groups. They have finalised data collection plans, received ethical clearance, and submitted (pre)registrations. Three longitudinal studies (CSs1-3) focus on primary prevention for whole populations. CS1 (n ~ 23,000) and CS2 (n ~ 20,000) use secondary data and are in the data cleaning phase, while CS3 has collected two waves of primary data (W1 n = 1,500; W2 n = 1,200). CSs 4-6 conduct clinical trials, testing nature-based mindfulness therapy for people at risk of metabolic syndrome. The first wave of data collection is completed with 52 people randomised to condition. CS7, using a similar intervention with stressed students, has completed data collection for 101 participants. CS8, using a related intervention for people with chronic mobility issues, was delayed by planning permission issues, but has recruited 26 participants. CS9, exploring nature-enrichment practices in care farms, has completed Community of Practice trials in 12 farms (6 intervention and 6 matched controls; 80 participants in total). All CSs have worked closely with WPs 4-8 to integrate data for multiple sectors. Focusing on health and health equity, WP4 has prepared Health Impact Assessment data collection protocols. A scoping review has explored NbT barriers/facilitators from the perspective of potential prescribers and plans to collect additional data from prescribers in Canada have been supported by our Canadian IEAB member. WP5 explores environmental impacts of NbTs, developing an “environmental matrix” based on a literature review to identify key environmental factors. They further established protocols to assess environmental risks and “carrying capacity.” WP6 examines cost-benefit aspects and sustainable NbT financing options. Supported by a literature review, they developed a data collection plan and embedded key metrics into CS protocols. The future financing options work has been supported through cross-consortium meetings and advice core IEAB members. WP7 explores broader societal acceptance of NbTs, establishing ‘Resilience Hubs’ (RHs) to demonstrate scalable NbTs and thus extend individual resilience benefits to whole communities. Through workshops involving community stakeholders the RHs are further refined in co-creation processes. A survey to identify factors that promote/hinder awareness and social acceptance was developed. WP8 explores the enablers/barriers to successful NbT implementation at scale and consider future scenarios across sectors. It has developed “logic models” using the project’s theoretical framework (NBRT) to clarify how different intervention components build resilience. For future scenarios, models are currently being developed for three CSs using appropriate methods and frameworks, including the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) developed by the IPCC. WP9 supports communication and outreach activities through branding, social media, and a dedicated website. Sixteen interviews with WP/CS leads have been added to the website, and a series podcasts are in development. Social media activity and followers on LinkedIn, Instagram, and BlueSky have grown steadily. Four articles in international scientific journals have acknowledged the project. All CS and WP activities requiring ethics have received or are in progress of obtaining approval. Ethical submissions, informed consent sheets, and the Data Management Plan have been reviewed by an independent ethics adviser. A legally compliant data management framework has been established using a secure platform and server at UNIVIE.
The first result achieved was the publication of the conceptual framework underlying RESONATE’s first objective, the Nature-based Biopsychosocial Resilience Theory (NBRT). Currently, the CSs are testing the processes, which will lead to stronger causal evidence for the relationship between nature and health. Additionally, a first version of a review on peer-reviewed NbT-programmes was completed, which has been used to create the first draft of the interactive NbT mapping tool. Further progress in the project has been made towards our expected results, such as multi-sectoral feedback on NbT value and acceptability, a multi-sectoral toolbox of resources and guides (for health equity, environmental, economic, and social sectors), and the creation of an overarching “What Works” Guide summarising the overall messages/processes.