INFTA-Certified Forest Therapy Tourist Guide training for the Global South
Open for applications now, INFTA is proud to offer the new Forest Therapy Tourist Guide (FTTG) training, an advanced professional pathway designed for those ready to thrive in the global health & wellbeing and wellness tourism sector. As demand grows in global wellness economy – projected to reach about USD 7 trillion in 2026 -, with wellness tourism being a major contributor, this training prepares practitioners to meet rising opportunities anywhere in the world. Delivered entirely supervised and mentored online through INFTA’s innovative Learning Management System, the FTTG course is accessible 24/7 from any location on standard digital devices. Over three months, trainees complete 168 mentored lessons, practical tasks, live mentoring and assessment, and receive comprehensive training material and access to INFTA’s extensive research database. Successful participants graduate with the INFTA Forest Therapy Tourist Guide Certificate and institutional accreditation. This internationally recognised qualification equips guides with the competencies to create safe, evidence-based Forest Therapy experiences tailored to tourists, enhancing eco-wellbeing offerings for resorts, spas, wellness centres and tour operators. Graduates can immediately tap into the expanding health & wellbeing tourism markets while contributing to Public health through nature connection practices. Begin your journey in this dynamic sector—anytime, anywhere. To find out more and apply, please click here.
Supporting youth mental health through social media detox and Forest Therapy
Recent research published in JAMA Network Open (2025) highlights growing evidence that structured social media detox initiatives can support improved mental health outcomes among young people. As communities respond to rising concerns around youth wellbeing, research and practice increasingly show that reducing screen time alone is not enough—what replaces digital engagement plays a critical role in shaping long-term outcomes. Guided Forest Therapy offers a research-informed, community-based complement to social media detox programs. Through intentional, sensory engagement with natural environments, Forest Therapy supports nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, attention restoration, and social connection—key protective factors for youth mental health. Delivered by trained practitioners and grounded in international standards, Forest Therapy provides a safe, inclusive, and non-clinical space that reframes “detox” as reconnection rather than deprivation. INFTA recognises Forest Therapy as an evidence-based public health practice, supported by a dynamic international training model that evolves alongside emerging research. This adaptive approach enables Forest Therapy to be ethically and effectively applied across demographics, settings, and cultures—including youth, community groups, and diverse populations—while maintaining consistency, quality, and professional integrity. As schools, youth services, local councils, and community organisations explore sustainable, preventive responses to youth mental health challenges, integrating guided Forest Therapy into social media detox initiatives represents a promising, low-risk, and scalable pathway toward lasting wellbeing. References: Calvert E, Cipriani M, Dwyer B, et al. Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health (2025). JAMA Netw Open;8(11):e2545245. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45245 Kil, N., Kim, J.G., Thornton, E., Jeranek, A. (2023). Psychological and Physiological Health Benefits of a Structured Forest Therapy Program for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 25(10), 1117–1125. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.022981
Green space is not a luxury — but Public health
A Finnish study adds striking evidence to something many of us intuitively know: contact with urban nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a Public health strategy with measurable mental and physical health benefits. It’s no surprise that researchers around the world are no longer just tracking whether people experience anxiety or depression, but why these conditions are rising — and what cities can do about it. What did the Finnish study find? Researchers analyzed responses from more than 16,000 residents in Helsinki and the surrounding area. They found that people who visited parks, community gardens, forests, or other green spaces three to four times a week had significantly lower use of prescription drugs compared to those who visited less than once a week: 33% lower odds of using medication for anxiety, depression, or insomnia 36% lower odds of use of hypertension medication 26% lower odds of using asthma medication What really stood out was that the strongest benefits were seen among lower-income residents, suggesting that access to green space could help reduce health inequalities — not just medication use. Prescription drug use was used as a proxy for ill health, meaning people spending more time in nature tended to rely less on medications for mental stress and cardiovascular conditions. Why this matters now These findings land at a time when mental health challenges are increasing worldwide: Nearly 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder such as anxiety or depression (World Health Organization – WHO). The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an estimated 25% rise in anxiety and depression in its first year (WHO). Urban living — with its density, noise, pollution, and social isolation — is consistently linked to higher rates of stress-related mental health conditions (World Economic Forum). Together, this tells me that cities need solutions beyond clinics and prescriptions — solutions that address environmental and social stressors at their roots. Green space as a Public health investment Spending time in parks and gardens appears to reduce stress even without intense physical activity. And because lower-income communities often have the least access to quality green space, investing in these environments can also promote health equity. With more than half the world’s population now living in cities — a figure expected to approach 60% by 2030 — the mental health burden of urban life will only grow without structural interventions. What this means for Urban Planning Urban planning needs to treat green space as essential infrastructure. That means: Ensuring everyone can reach a green or blue space within walking distance, Designing spaces that feel safe, inclusive, and well maintained Correcting inequities in where green space is located Integrating greenery into every day routes, not just destination parks Supporting initiatives like social prescribing that encourage time outdoors A question for all of us This research reinforces a simple but powerful idea: nature supports health in measurable ways, including reduced reliance on medication. As mental health pressures continue to rise, cities have both an opportunity and a responsibility to design for well-being. So, the question is: what can citizens do — or get involved in — to ensure city planners and public officials take this kind of research seriously when planning for the future? In an era of rising anxiety and depression, urban green space is more than beauty. It is prevention. Reference: Turunen, A. W., Halonen, J., Korpela, K., Ojala, A., Pasanen, T., Siponen, T., Tiittanen, P., Tyrväinen, L., Yli-Tuomi, T., & Lanki, T. (2023). Cross-sectional associations of different types of nature exposure with psychotropic, antihypertensive and asthma medication. Occupational and environmental medicine, 80(2), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108491
INFTA completed innovative research project
INFTA has successfully completed the data collection for the research project termed “Effective Stress Reduction in Nature“. This project aimed at effectively bringing down stress levels of international students to improve their mental and physical health. It was partially funded by a grant of the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Region in Victoria. It was part of the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program which has funded 162 projects to the value of $7.3 million and supported more than 235,000 international students since its inception in 2015. INFTA led a consortium of researchers and executive staff from Deakin University, RMIT, Federation University and the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Free Forest Therapy sessions were offered to international students in Melbourne but also in Ballarat and Geelong so that students studying at regional campuses were able to take part. Ethics clearance for this important clinical trial was obtained from the regional health provider, Barwon Health. We thank all international students who supported this research project. A summary report will be provided to international students at the end of January 2026 with an international publication in a Q1 journal to follow during the first half of this year.
Forest Therapy – effective in Germany
INFTA is proud about the release of the first scientific article which underscores the effectiveness of Forest Therapy in Germany. In 2020 and on the initiative of INFTA’s Secretary & International Strategic Advisor, Dr. Dieter Kotte, INFTA (Germany) and Charité Berlin teamed up to conduct the first national research project in Forest Therapy, federally funded through the Waldklimafonds in Germany. The article “Effects of Forest Therapy on Participant-Reported Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Dose-Comparison Trial Among the General Population in Germany” summarizes the findings which have just been published internationally in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. The results underscore the effectiveness of INFTA’s standardized Forest Therapy sessions and pave the way for further clinical studies to determine, for example, the most appropriate dosage for patients/people with mental health issues. Furthermore, the results also strongly endorse the use of standardized Forest Therapy sessions for prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Overall, the findings from the national German research underline the effectiveness and applicability of Forest Therapy as an evidence-based Public health practice.
INFTA receives important research grant
INFTA has been awarded another grant by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Region in Victoria. The proposed research project termed “Effective Stress Reduction in Nature” aims at effectively bringing down stress levels of international students to improve their mental and physical health. It is part of the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program which has funded 162 projects to the value of $7.3 million and supported more than 235,000 international students since its inception in 2015. INFTA leads a consortium of researchers and executive staff from Deakin University, RMIT, Federation University and the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Free Forest Therapy sessions will not only be offered to international students in Melbourne but also, as a major step forward, in Ballarat and Geelong so that students studying at regional campuses can also take part. Data collection is scheduled for the second half of 2025. Ethics clearance for this important clinical trial will be sought from the regional health provider, Barwon Health. We thank Study Melbourne for its ongoing support.
INFTA’s fact-finding mission in Taiwan
In March 2025, INFTA‘s Executive Committee members, Susan Joachim and Dr. Dieter Kotte, were invited by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA), Ministry of Agriculture, to Taiwan on a fact-finding mission learn about Forest Therapy in Taiwan. The mission was organized by the Taiwan Forest Therapy Society. At a symposium conducted at FANCA’s headquarter in Taipei, FANCA’s Director General, Dr. Hwa-Ching Lin, welcomed INFTA’s representatives and expressed his hope that Forest Therapy – as an evidence-based Public health practice – could be developed further in Taiwan as a result of this mission. This expectation was shared wholeheartedly by Susan Joachim and Dr. Dieter Kotte.
INFTA’s fact-finding mission in Japan
In November 2024, INFTA‘s Executive Committee members, Susan Joachim and Dr. Dieter Kotte, were invited to Japan on a fact-finding mission to reset and restart Forest Therapy – referred to as “Shinrin-yoku” (森林浴) in Japanese. Invited by a group of business people, several site visits within the Tokyo Prefecture were conducted to evaluate their suitability for Forest Therapy. Among the places inspected were Hinohara Tomin-no-Mori, Showa Emperor Memorial Park and Komine Park in the West of Tokyo City. The Mayor of Hinohara-mura, Mr. Koji Yoshimoto, welcomed INFTA’s representatives in his office on 28 November 2024 and expressed his hope that health & wellbeing tourism could and will be strengthened in his region as a result of this mission.
INFTA leads important research
INFTA led a research group in Australia conducting an important clinical study. The aim of this project – funded with a grant by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Region in Victoria – was to bring down stress levels of international students to improve their mental and physical health. Some 350 international students registered for one of 12 Forest Therapy sessions carried out between August and October 2024 at the centrally-located Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne. The satisfaction level of students with Forest Therapy was overwhelming: an impressive 96.0 percent. More so the tension of international students dropped by more than 40%, their fatigue by more than 30% and their vigor increased by more than 20% after the standardized two-hour Forest Therapy session. As a result, Forest Therapy was recommended as a regular, evidence-based, effective and affordable intervention to alleviate stress and anxiety among (international) students.
Forest Therapy Guide Training in Victoria
The Institute of Forest Therapy, INFTA’s Accredited Training Provider in Australia, conducted another successful exclusive five-day, in-person workshop at Pallotti College in Victoria/Australia. Getting exposed to various weather conditions allowed the participants to familiarize themselves with the natural conditions Forest Therapy Guides experience when guiding participants outdoors in different seasons. Bringing together a wide range of professional competencies, the new training cohort began their six-months training highly motivated with a lot of team spirit. While the learning curve was steep – David Belli, IFT’s Lead Trainer conducted the practical learning components while INFTA’s Secretary & International Strategic Advisor, Dr. Dieter Kotte, was responsible for the overall conduct of the seminar and the theoretical learning components – everyone enjoyed the unique experience at the tranquil and ideally located setting of Pallotti College as well as the hospitality of its staff.