The Bussaco Forest has committed to influencing public policies by using concrete data to demonstrate how nature contributes to physical and mental health. This new project aims to establish foundations for conservation, nature tourism, and health strategies applicable in Portugal and globally.
The project, named PhorestAll, is a scientific research study focused on therapeutic forests and is scheduled to last three years. The coordination of this international consortium takes place in Portugal, starting from Bussaco, under the management of Destinature (Nature Tourism Development Agency).
The group brings together higher education institutions, research centers, and specialized organizations from five different nations. According to the Bussaco Forest Foundation, the central objective of the study is to accurately determine why forests promote well-being, transforming Bussaco's international recognition into an innovative program that deepens the link between biodiversity and human health.
This investigative model will not be limited to Portugal; it will be implemented in forests located in the other four participating countries: Slovenia, Poland, Lithuania, and Taiwan.
In the surroundings of the Bussaco Forest, researchers from the Functional Ecology Center of the University of Coimbra will analyze three essential informational components. These include Biodiversity, which assesses the diversity and condition of species present in the forest; Soil Microbiome, referring to underground communities of fungi and bacteria; and Phytoncides, which are volatile compounds released by trees and inhaled by visitors during walks.
These biological and environmental elements will be correlated with the health and well-being indicators of the participants. The purpose is to measure, in a strictly scientific and objective manner, the real impact that nature exerts on the human organism.
In addition to the scientific aspect, PhorestAll foresees intense community participation. This will involve schools, ordinary citizens, health professionals, political decision-makers, and rural landowners through workshops, local meetings, and training activities. The focus is to convert scientific knowledge into practical sustainability actions.
Registration to participate in the study is already open, and the first forest therapy session is scheduled for the 26th. It should be noted that the Bussaco National Forest obtained Therapeutic Forest certification in July, making it the first in the Iberian Peninsula and the fourth globally. Furthermore, the Bussaco Forest, located in the parish of Luso, municipality of Mealhada (Aveiro district), was designated a national monument in December 2017.
Currently, the area occupied by the forest is approximately 105 hectares, and it houses one of Europe's richest dendrological collections, featuring about 250 notable types of trees and shrubs.