What is a healing forest?

Healing forests are wooded areas, which are suitable for the therapeutic use in specific medical indications. Treatments by trained therapists in healing forests can favourably influence the course of diseases and disabilities as well as mental disorders (tertiary prevention) and relieve chronic diseases (palliation).

The minimum criteria are general structural requirements for curative forests:

Basic requirements

well managed, near-natural forest
location removed from road/rail traffic
development / use / landscaping concept

Environment

parking facilities
health-promoting facility in the immediate vicinity

Health-promoting aspect

emission-free forest air
relaxing

Health-promoting aspect

emission-free forest air
indication-based, medically substantiated presentation of criteria

Signage

signposts with trail length information and information on special sights
graphical presentation of trail profile
info boards on plants and trees, special features in wood, exposure to allergens
instructions for indication-based health promotion
info board on the forest classification

Trail network

unpaved track surfaces
signposted exercise trails graduated according to strenuousness and difficulty
trails for moderate physical exertion
some parts of trails should be suitable for persons with physical handicaps, wheelchair users

Infrastructure

seating
facilities for resting/picnicking/forest pavilion
relaxation and exercise area
designated first aid point
walking training facilities

Accessibility

some trails are accessible to persons with disabilities

Treatment options

climate (skin and respiratory tract disorders)
movement (orthopaedic, cardiovascular and neurological disorders)
relaxation and movement (mental illness)
Kneipp hydrotherapy (cardiovascular and mental disorders)

Specialist personnel

climatotherapist
physiotherapist
psychotherapist

In addition to the minimum criteria, optimal criteria are also defined. For an optimum, for example, the proximity to a body of water (lake, pond, stream, sea) is necessary. But there is also scope for extensions to the facilities, including: a dining facility at the edge of the forest, a sensory perception trail, an educational forest trail and trails with lighting and equipped with handrails.

The possibility of extending the specialist personnel with a specialist in forest education is also mentioned.