NatureLab: Pioneering Nature Based Therapy for Global Well-Being

By Daniela Silva-Rodriquez & Manuela de Szyszlo

Note: This article was originally written in Spanish and can be read in the original language here.

Groundbreaking Collaboration

In 2021 The Pan-American Association for Therapeutic and Social Horticulture (APHTS) was invited to join forces with the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering of Portugal (LNEC) for a groundbreaking collaboration. This partnership was born out of the recognition of a shared mission to explore and expand the realm of nature-based interventions aimed at enhancing health and well-being. As a non-profit organization dedicated to pioneering horticultural therapy as a complementary and evidence-based treatment, APHTS found a unique opportunity in this invitation to bridge the gap between nature-based therapy (NBT) alternatives and the production of science-based evidence of its healing potential. What set this collaboration apart was the distinction of APHTS being the sole non-European partner to join the HORIZON EU grant call, highlighting our expertise in a predominantly European consortium.

Our commitment at APHTS is to promote a horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture practice that is evidence-based, non-pharmacological and complementary to other treatment plans with the objective of helping people heal through strengthening their connection to nature. This aligns seamlessly with the grant’s focus, further validating our decade-long efforts to combat cultural and professional reservations against such cost-effective NBT treatment options. The challenge has always been to substantiate the efficacy of NBT with solid evidence, thereby integrating them more comprehensively into medical and therapeutic practices worldwide.

The European Research Executive Agency’s decision to award us the research grant was a monumental step towards realizing our vision. NATURELAB is not just a project; it represents a leap forward in validating and advocating for the integration of NBT into the healthcare continuum, promising a new era of integral well-being.

Vision & Objectives

NATURELAB aspires to mend and deepen the bond between humanity and nature, emphasizing urban settings where this connection is often most tenuous. By leveraging the power of Nature Based Therapy and interventions, NATURELAB targets the heart of socio-environmental challenges, striving for a healthier, more sustainable coexistence with our natural surroundings.

Uniting a diverse consortium of 14 partners from 6 countries^[1], NATURELAB embodies a melting pot of expertise, methodologies, and experiences. This rich interdisciplinary collaboration aims to pioneer a lifestyle in harmony with nature, advocating for nature-based solutions that ensure communal well-being, urban equilibrium, and forward-looking sustainable development.

At its core, the project champions an integrated approach, enlisting a broad spectrum of stakeholders—from the medical and scientific communities to environmental groups, policymakers, and beyond. This collaboration seeks to use the combined expertise to explore and validate the potential of Nature-based Therapies in promoting health and well-being through a holistic perspective that bridges multiple fields of knowledge.

Innovative Strategy

NATURELAB’s innovative strategy focuses on the development and validation of customized NBT programs, prioritizing preventive health care and rehabilitation. These programs are designed to not only cater to individual health needs but also to foster community resilience against contemporary challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban environmental stressors like noise pollution and air quality.

With an ambitious goal to engage approximately 4,000 participants across diverse settings, NATURELAB plans to implement and evaluate NBT interventions at 15 experimental sites spread over five countries. These efforts aim to illuminate the multifaceted benefits of integrating green and blue infrastructures into public health strategies, thereby enhancing ecosystem services and contributing to a resilient, sustainably developed world.

Figure 1: An overview of the NATURELAB project, showcasing its dual focus on Health and Societal Pillars within an interdisciplinary framework aimed at enhancing nature-based solutions for community health and environmental sustainability. Infographic from: *https://NATURELAB-project.eu/about/*

Path to Nature-Based Innovation

The Path to Nature-based Innovation within NATURELAB unfolds as a journey towards designing and implementing nature-based therapeutic programs meticulously tailored to the diverse needs of populations across five countries in Europe and Latin America.

Key anticipated outcomes of NATURELAB include:

Customized Nature-based Therapy programs designed to meet the unique needs of different demographics.
A comprehensive portfolio detailing the therapeutic potential of nature, alongside specific guidelines for assessing the health benefits of green spaces.
Detailed protocols for the creation and upkeep of both private and public healing gardens and horticultural spaces, emphasizing their role in fostering climate resilience and promoting environmental sustainability.
Strategic program guides outlining financing mechanisms to bolster Nature-based Therapy (NBT) within the healthcare sector.
Innovative guidelines aimed at facilitating the widespread incorporation of nature-based therapy into mainstream public health practices.

Quantitatively, NATURELAB is poised to enrich nearly 600 health professionals globally with its NBT programs, further enhancing the reach and impact of its initiatives through the distribution of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 cutting-edge educational and training resources across all experimental sites. Furthermore, an indirect yet significant outcome of the project is the anticipated creation of new vocational roles, including nature-based therapists and facilitators, underscoring NATURELAB’s expansive approach to innovation, education, and employment within the realm of nature-based therapy.

Pivotal Leadership

APHTS’s role and contribution to NATURELAB underscores its pivotal leadership in spearheading key aspects of the project, particularly through its co-leadership of Work Packages, which are integral to the development and validation of nature-based therapeutic programs.

Under Work Packages 2, “Design, Implementation, and Validation of Nature Based Therapies,” APHTS’s mission is to craft, apply, and confirm the efficacy of tailored Nature Based Therapy programs. These initiatives are designed to substantially enhance the physical and mental well-being of participants across 15 diverse experimental sites, each chosen for its unique geographical and health-related context. post-validation, the proven therapeutic programs are set to be introduced at four Demonstrator Fellow Sites, with three located in Greece and one in Peru. Key objectives include:

Formulating and validating a structured methodology for an NBT program portfolio.
Creating tailored therapeutic programs aimed at improving the physical and mental health and well-being of participants.
Outlining formal requirements for nature-based therapists, including protocols for recruitment and training, to ensure high-quality delivery of NBT at Experimental Sites and oversee their replication at Demonstrator Fellow Sites.

Work Package 3, “Establishing Causal Relationships between Nature Based Therapies and Health and Well-being,” is dedicated to refining and validating the NATURELAB assessment model. This involves setting participant criteria, and developing quantitative and qualitative assessment protocols and experimental designs to produce conclusive evidence of the positive impacts of NBT on health and well-being. Moreover, this package focuses on identifying key factors — such as age, gender, socio-economic status, and cultural context — that may influence the effectiveness of NBT, alongside evaluating the role of environmental characteristics in promoting health and well-being.

Through these contributions, APHTS not only plays a crucial role in the innovative development and application of NBT but also in the empirical validation of its benefits, reinforcing NATURELAB’s commitment to establishing NBT as a cornerstone of public health and wellness strategies

Figure 2: An organizational diagram of the NATURELAB project, illustrating the workflow across WPs, the guidance of the Ethics Advisory Group, and the oversight by the International Collaborative Board. Infographic from: *https://NATURELAB-project.eu/about/*

Experimental Sites: A Global Laboratory for Nature-Based Healing

Within the expansive framework of NATURELAB, APHTS collaborates with Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil in Portugal (LNEC) and Social Action and Innovation Centre in Greece (KMOP) to diligently manage 15 Experimental Sites and 4 Demonstrator Fellow Sites across Portugal, Greece, The Netherlands, Germany, and Peru. These sites are carefully selected to encapsulate a myriad of contexts—ranging from urban parks to forested areas and indoor gardening spaces—thereby embodying diverse climate conditions, biodiversity, and socio-cultural settings to validate the project’s outcomes.

In Peru, APHTS is in charge of two Experimental Sites and one Demonstrator Fellow Site, each chosen for its unique setting and target demographic, thus highlighting the project’s innovative approach:

Hospital Hermilio Valdizán, Lima: Catering to adults with severe mental health disorders, this site integrates NBT within the hospital’s regimen, aiming to enhance the well-being of 20-30 individuals receiving medical and therapeutic services.
Puericultorio Pérez Aranibar, Lima (Foster Home): This site focuses on the emotional regulation of institutionalized children aged 6 to 11 and those at risk from the local community, reaching approximately 110 children. Here, the implementation of a healing garden serves as a sanctuary for engagement and tranquility, featuring a meditation area, sensory paths, and thematic gardens designed to stimulate and soothe.
Demonstrator Fellow Site, Castilla Community, Piura: Home to 140 climate refugees, this community faces the daunting task of reconciling with nature amidst the adversities posed by El Niño. By leveraging the native flora and fauna, NATURELAB aims to foster community cohesion, resilience, and mental well-being through the creation of a communal green space, thus addressing the intricate challenges of integrating climate awareness with therapeutic horticulture.

These Experimental Sites in Lima and Piura exemplify NATURELAB’s commitment to harnessing the restorative power of nature, employing tailored, innovative strategies to support diverse populations and environments.

Healing Garden

Conclusion: New Era of Health and Nature

The comprehensive scope of the NATURELAB project, from its visionary objectives to the strategic roles undertaken by APHTS and Consortium Colleagues, alongside the diverse array of Experimental and Demonstrator Fellow Sites, embodies a transformative endeavor in the realm of NBT. NATURELAB stands at the forefront of a global movement, redefining the integration of natural environments with health care, promoting environmental stewardship, and enhancing community resilience. Its commitment to leveraging the restorative power of nature not only heralds a new chapter in therapeutic practices but also sets a precedent for holistic health care, environmental conservation, and societal well-being. As we move forward, NATURELAB’s pioneering work offers a beacon of hope, illustrating the untapped potential of NBT to forge healthier, more resilient communities across the globe.

*Figure 5: Adventure path to channel excess energy.*sensory path

*Figure 7: Meditation area for emotional regulation*

[1]NATURELAB Consortium partners: LNEC – Portugal, UHC – Germany, FTHub – Portugal, UG – Germany, KMOP – Greece, SPI – Portugal, APHTS – Peru, CMS – Portugal, RN – Portugal, WU – Netherlands, VU – Netherlands, FICUS – Peru, CWC – United Kingdom, BCV – Germany.