Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NATURELAB (Nature based interventions for improving health and well-being)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-11-30
Over half of the global population now lives in urban areas, projected to reach two-thirds by 2050. As cities expand green and blue areas to address climate change, their potential as healthcare resources is often overlooked. Urban living brings challenges like stress, sedentary lifestyles, and environmental hazards, contributing to cardio-respiratory and mental health issues. Despite the EU prioritising biodiversity and ecosystem services, the prescription of Nature-Based Therapies (NBT) remains underutilised, with limited scientific demonstration across diverse populations and nature contexts. NATURELAB addresses this gap by promoting resilient communities through green and blue spaces, focusing on health, climate resilience, biodiversity, and urban water management. The project integrates stakeholders across sectors—including healthcare, education, NGOs, and local governments—to develop solutions enhancing health and sustainability in rural, coastal, and urban regions.
The NATURELAB project explores nature-based solutions to support health and well-being, and enhance resilience to climate extremes, focusing on two pillars – Societal and Health (cf. Fig. 1). Key project goals include increasing awareness of nature-based therapies (NBT) for prevention and rehabilitation, developing guidelines to assess health benefits from nature, and fostering sustainable blue and green spaces.The consortium encompasses a variety of skills, dealing with interdisciplinary approaches and cross-sectoral topics. The team uses social and behavioural science methods to support a better understanding of the enablers and barriers to NBT implementation and uptake by the public health sector.
The project involves 4,000 people from 15 Experimental Sites and 4 Demonstrator Fellows across rural, urban, and coastal areas in Europe (Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Germany) and Latin America (Peru). This population, diverse in gender, age, and socioeconomic status, will partake in Nature-Based Interventions (NBI) designed to improve health conditions, like cardiovascular diseases and mental health, while also studying the health impact of proximity and connection to nature. NATURELAB investigates three types of nature settings— i)forests and protected areas, ii)urban parks and healing gardens, and iii) horticulture spaces. Outcomes include tailored NBT programs, health and sustainability indicators for three types of nature spaces, guidelines for healing gardens design, funding schemes and pathways to integrate NBT into public healthcare.
The project will train health professionals and distribute 8,000–10,000 educational materials, fostering new jobs in NBT and gardening industries. It aims to build resilient, sustainable communities by addressing climate change, promoting biodiversity, and managing air and noise pollution.
NATURELAB's final outcomes will contribute to boost the recognition, promotion and use of green and blue spaces as healthcare providers - supporting health prevention and rehabilitation, as well as boosting a new paradigm for the project and management of urban nature areas. The NATURELAB Social Innovation Hub ensures a wide engagement of stakehodlers, contributing to leveraging the impact of the project. A new mindset and awareness of the multi-level benefits of nature among policy and decision-makers, urban planners and city designers, healthcare providers, social and educational professionals, and general public will be one of the project legacies.
The NATURELAB project explores nature-based solutions to support health and well-being, and enhance resilience to climate extremes, focusing on two pillars – Societal and Health (cf. Fig. 1). Key project goals include increasing awareness of nature-based therapies (NBT) for prevention and rehabilitation, developing guidelines to assess health benefits from nature, and fostering sustainable blue and green spaces.The consortium encompasses a variety of skills, dealing with interdisciplinary approaches and cross-sectoral topics. The team uses social and behavioural science methods to support a better understanding of the enablers and barriers to NBT implementation and uptake by the public health sector.
The project involves 4,000 people from 15 Experimental Sites and 4 Demonstrator Fellows across rural, urban, and coastal areas in Europe (Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Germany) and Latin America (Peru). This population, diverse in gender, age, and socioeconomic status, will partake in Nature-Based Interventions (NBI) designed to improve health conditions, like cardiovascular diseases and mental health, while also studying the health impact of proximity and connection to nature. NATURELAB investigates three types of nature settings— i)forests and protected areas, ii)urban parks and healing gardens, and iii) horticulture spaces. Outcomes include tailored NBT programs, health and sustainability indicators for three types of nature spaces, guidelines for healing gardens design, funding schemes and pathways to integrate NBT into public healthcare.
The project will train health professionals and distribute 8,000–10,000 educational materials, fostering new jobs in NBT and gardening industries. It aims to build resilient, sustainable communities by addressing climate change, promoting biodiversity, and managing air and noise pollution.
NATURELAB's final outcomes will contribute to boost the recognition, promotion and use of green and blue spaces as healthcare providers - supporting health prevention and rehabilitation, as well as boosting a new paradigm for the project and management of urban nature areas. The NATURELAB Social Innovation Hub ensures a wide engagement of stakehodlers, contributing to leveraging the impact of the project. A new mindset and awareness of the multi-level benefits of nature among policy and decision-makers, urban planners and city designers, healthcare providers, social and educational professionals, and general public will be one of the project legacies.
The NATURELAB project organises its activities into six Work Packages (WP), employing an interdisciplinary approach to develop and implement Nature-Based Therapies (NBT) across multiple locations in five countries. The key activities and achievements during the initial reporting period include:
• WP1: Developed indicators to assess green spaces for health benefits (D1.1) and initiated the design and implementation of Healing Gardens at three Experimental Sites (ES). Data collection began for the Gelderland study.
• WP2: Established guidelines for training Nature-Based Therapists (D2.1) defined NBT components (D2.2) and outlined recruitment procedures (D2.3). A framework for therapeutic nature connections (D2.4) was created, and work began on intervention programs tailored for diverse populations (D2.5).
• WP3: Developed the NATURELAB Assessment Model (MS5) and an app for participant evaluation at ES.
• WP4: Created an awareness-raising roadmap (MS3) and proof-of-concept processes for NBT integration in healthcare (D4.1). Multi-actor engagement through interviews and focus groups enhanced understanding of integration challenges and expanded stakeholder networks. The NATURELAB Social Innovation Hub was established.
• WP5: Mapped 300 stakeholders, launched the project website, created promotional materials, and produced videos, including an animation video.
• WP6: Ensured effective coordination and management through meetings, guidelines, and data/ethics plans (D6.1 D6.2). A Scientific and Technical Committee was formed to oversee quality.
These activities strengthen NATURELAB's capacity to advance NBT adoption, foster stakeholder collaboration, and improve health and well-being through nature.
• WP1: Developed indicators to assess green spaces for health benefits (D1.1) and initiated the design and implementation of Healing Gardens at three Experimental Sites (ES). Data collection began for the Gelderland study.
• WP2: Established guidelines for training Nature-Based Therapists (D2.1) defined NBT components (D2.2) and outlined recruitment procedures (D2.3). A framework for therapeutic nature connections (D2.4) was created, and work began on intervention programs tailored for diverse populations (D2.5).
• WP3: Developed the NATURELAB Assessment Model (MS5) and an app for participant evaluation at ES.
• WP4: Created an awareness-raising roadmap (MS3) and proof-of-concept processes for NBT integration in healthcare (D4.1). Multi-actor engagement through interviews and focus groups enhanced understanding of integration challenges and expanded stakeholder networks. The NATURELAB Social Innovation Hub was established.
• WP5: Mapped 300 stakeholders, launched the project website, created promotional materials, and produced videos, including an animation video.
• WP6: Ensured effective coordination and management through meetings, guidelines, and data/ethics plans (D6.1 D6.2). A Scientific and Technical Committee was formed to oversee quality.
These activities strengthen NATURELAB's capacity to advance NBT adoption, foster stakeholder collaboration, and improve health and well-being through nature.
The NATURELAB project has made significant progress in its first 18 months, achieving impactful results that go beyond the state-of-the-art in integrating nature-based solutions into healthcare and community well-being. Key outcomes include:
1. Framework of Indicators: A comprehensive framework was developed to classify nature areas based on their potential to promote health and well-being. This framework, structured across ten dimensions (e.g. spatial design, natural characteristics, climate resilience, air quality, cultural ecosystem services), is being tested in 14 Experimental Sites (ES) and has garnered significant interest from research and education communities.
2. Healing Gardens: The design and implementation of a Healing Garden at ES#13 (Peru) were completed, with ongoing projects at ES#2 (Portugal) and ES#14 (Peru). These gardens integrate healthcare, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, providing innovative solutions for future implementations.
3. NATURELAB App: The team developed an app for data collection and management based on the NATURELAB methodology. Implemented in ArcGIS Survey123, it supports NBT's participant assessment and ES characterisation, offering a customisable tool for future applications.
4. Drivers and Barriers to NBT Adoption: Initial findings across Portugal, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, and Peru identified key drivers and barriers for integrating Nature-Based Therapies (NBT) into healthcare systems. These insights address systemic challenges and facilitate scaling up NBT in diverse contexts.
These results highlight NATURELAB's innovative approach to advancing nature-based solutions for health and well-being.
1. Framework of Indicators: A comprehensive framework was developed to classify nature areas based on their potential to promote health and well-being. This framework, structured across ten dimensions (e.g. spatial design, natural characteristics, climate resilience, air quality, cultural ecosystem services), is being tested in 14 Experimental Sites (ES) and has garnered significant interest from research and education communities.
2. Healing Gardens: The design and implementation of a Healing Garden at ES#13 (Peru) were completed, with ongoing projects at ES#2 (Portugal) and ES#14 (Peru). These gardens integrate healthcare, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, providing innovative solutions for future implementations.
3. NATURELAB App: The team developed an app for data collection and management based on the NATURELAB methodology. Implemented in ArcGIS Survey123, it supports NBT's participant assessment and ES characterisation, offering a customisable tool for future applications.
4. Drivers and Barriers to NBT Adoption: Initial findings across Portugal, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, and Peru identified key drivers and barriers for integrating Nature-Based Therapies (NBT) into healthcare systems. These insights address systemic challenges and facilitate scaling up NBT in diverse contexts.
These results highlight NATURELAB's innovative approach to advancing nature-based solutions for health and well-being.