Factors that Influence Forest Therapy Experiences and Outcomes

Forest therapy, a mindfulness-based practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s, has become increasing popular in the United States in the last 10 years. Most definitions of forest therapy emphasize multisensory, immersive experiences in nature to achieve human health and wellbeing outcomes. 

The existing research on forest therapy has focused primarily on people’s experiences and outcomes. In so doing, it has provided limited insight into the environmental factors and conditions that give rise to healing nature experiences. NRS researchers and their colleagues are trying to address this knowledge gap.

Key Findings

• Previous forest therapy research from around the world has focused on people’s experiences and health outcomes with limited consideration of the physical features of the forest environment. 
• The research team has identified a wide range of findings about human-forest interactions that offer important insights for future research and for developing forest therapy programs.
• The researchers have pinpointed three site-related criteria categories (accessibility, tranquility, and landscape character and quality) and two trail-related criteria (design and construction, and key features and qualities) that they intend to use in future phases of this research.

Completed Phases of the Research

In an initial review of the existing research literature, the scientists used a conceptual framework developed in landscape perception research to examine how components of forest therapy have been conceptualized and measured. The literature search identified 266 studies on forest therapy and related activities. For each of these studies, the research team analyzed variables related to four central components (human, forest, interaction, and outcome) of forest therapy experiences.

While most previous studies reported positive mental and/or physical health outcomes, the researchers found that typical studies had involved small numbers of participants who engaged in limited interactions with a forest environment that was minimally described in the literature. The current research led by Paul Gobster has identified a wider range of findings with regard to human-forest interactions, which provide important insights for guiding forest therapy research and developing forest therapy trails, settings, and programs.

In the second phase of the research, the team set out to understand the conditions and features that contribute to a good forest therapy trail. They interviewed trained forest therapy guides to uncover concepts for further refinement and structuring. Through this process, they identified and described three site-related criteria (landscape character and quality, tranquility, and accessibility) and two trail-related criteria (design and construction, and key features and qualities), as well as sub-criteria that provide details about specific conditions and considerations. 

Current and Future Phases of the Research 

The third phase of this research is setting up field trials to test collect more detailed information in each of the criteria categories (landscape character and quality, tranquility, accessibility, trail design and construction, and key trail features and qualities).  In summer and fall 2023, Gobster selected new forest therapy fieldwork sites and added bike and paddling activities where such opportunities were available.

The research team has reconceived the idea of sites as single trails and is now looking at places with multiple trails and activity opportunities for immersive experiences. Getting to know these places has taken them into the realm of landscape history, and they are delving into previously unfamiliar areas such as geology, archeology, and historical geography to try and characterize how the landscape people experience today has been shaped by natural forces and human activities over time.

The ultimate goal of the research Is to provide criteria for identifying existing trails and designing new ones that meet the needs of forest planners, managers, guides, and forest therapy participants. The research team plans to develop guidelines for designing forest therapy trails and programs to improve mental or physical health conditions.