On-site coverage of the “2024 World Forest Healing Forum”, global forest healing experts are gathered in one place
2024-11-01 Reporter Hwang Hee-jung
Report of research by scholars from around the world on forest healing and adoption of the ‘Jincheon Declaration’ for the establishment of an international organization
The “2024 World Forum on Forest Therapy 2024” was held from October 28 to 30. Under the theme of “Forests for Health, Happiness and Well-being,” the forum was followed by research activities and discussions by experts from all over the world about the therapeutic benefits and development potential of forest healing. Hosted by Chungbuk National University and the Korea Forest Welfare Promotion Agency, it was sponsored by the Korea Forest Research Institute, the Korea Forest Research Institute, Artfore, the Korea Arboretum Garden Management Institute, the Korea Mountain Climbing Trekking Support Center, the Korea Arboretum Association, and Jincheon County.
About 300 people, including domestic and foreign forest healing, medical researchers and experts, industrial and field experts, and forest healing instructors, participated in this 2024 World Forest Healing Forum. The 2024 World Forest Healing Forum showed Korea’s position in the field of forest healing, and eight representatives from each country adopted the “Jincheon Declaration.” In the declaration, the establishment of an “international organization” for network cooperation in the field of forest healing was proposed.
Global Leaders of Forest Healing Gather in Korea
Melissa Lem, Kathleen Wolf, Shin Won-seop, Ulrika K. Stigsdotter, Gisela Immich, Darija Cvikl
On the first day of the forum, on the 28th, the opening ceremony was followed by keynote lectures and high-level dialogues involving scholars from all over the world. Keynote speakers of the forum included Shin Won-seop, chairman of the Korea Forest Healing Forum, President, Korea Forest Therapy Forum, Ulrika K. Stigsdotter, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Kathleen Wolf, a professor at the University of Washington in the United States, Darija Cvikl, a professor at the University of Blad, Slovenia, Melissa Lem, a professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada, and Dr. Gisela lmmich from the University of Munich in Germany. They are world-class experts in the field of forest healing, and are world-class scholars who have conducted health effects of forests and policies and research using them. Chairman Shin Won-seop presented the present and future of forest healing, Professor Sticksdorter presented the healing effects of gardens and green cities, Professor Wolf presented the economic effects of forest healing, Professor Chicle presented the trend of forest healing in Europe, Professor Lem presented the Nature Prescription for the Health of Humans and the Earth, and Dr. Im Mi-hi presented the standard of German forest healing facilities. After the presentation, in-depth discussions continued, and there were “The Benefits of Forest Healing,” “The Economy and Industry of Forest Healing,” “The Present and Future of Garden Healing,” and “Poster Session.”
Shin Won-seop, Chairman of the Forum, Presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 World Forest Healing Forum
Adopting the ‘Jincheon Declaration’ towards the establishment of an international organization in the field of ‘forest healing’
On the second day, a forest experience program was held. Participants experienced the practical effects of forest healing through workshops and experience programs in Korea’s traditional Healing Forest.
Networking and solidarity sessions were organized by Alex Gess, executive director of Forest Therapy Hub, ANFT Forest Healing Program was organized by M. Amos. Clifford, founder of the American Association for Nature and Forest Healing, at the Korea Forest Welfare Institute for Walking Healthy Forests, Lim Hee-kyung, CEO of Querencia for forest health training, Korean traditional aromatherapy and forest healing by Song Jeong-hee, an adjunct professor at Onseok University, and the tree climbing experience by the Korea Aborist Association. In particular, eight representatives from around the world adopted the “Jincheon Declaration.”
On the 30th, the last day, an outdoor experience program (Field Trip) was held at the National Center for Forest Therapy and Sejong National Arboretum.
Sources: https://www.planet03.com/post/현장취재ㅣ2024-세계-산림치유-포럼-대전-진천에서-개최-글로벌-산림치유-전문가-한자리에
