The Congress Scientific Committee is pleased to announce that the call for abstracts for the VI. international congress “Forest and its potential for Health” in Druskininkai, Lithuania, 18 – 20 September 2024, is open and welcomes submissions of abstracts according to the following submission guidelines by 31. May 2024
We accept proposals for oral presentations, poster presentations and workshops. The abstracts submitted will be assessed, peer-reviewed, and grouped by topics: forest and health and non-wood forest economy.
Abstract submissions themes and topics:
Forest and Health: This theme will explore the myriad ways in which forests influence human health, both physically and mentally. We are waiting for the latest scientific research on this topic, offering a profound understanding of how different natural environments can promote well-being. Public health interventions and agendas nowadays aim to incorporate these green environments into our daily working and living environments. Integrating nature-based activities into our healthy lifestyles has become a challenge for experts in disciplines like architecture, landscape planning, education, forestry and politics. Understanding the intricate relationship between forest ecosystems and its direct influence on human health will be a core focus and application into practice / system.
Key topics:
- Forest medicine for health
- Forest, green facilities and services for public health
- Nature prescription programs, activities and strategies
- Environmental planning for public health
- Forest goods, biodiversity security, nutritional value for health
- Forest therapy, health policies, practices and culture of forests for public health
Non-Wood Forest Economy: Congress will explore the sustainable and diverse opportunities within the non-wood forest economy, which are contributing to nature conservation, sacred forests protection, and tourism opportunities. Sustainable practices, such as non-timber forest products, nature-based tourism, healing therapeutic forest creation, will be discussed, emphasizing the importance of responsible and close to nature forest management. We welcome abstracts exploring the growing use of socio-cultural forest values, non-wood products and therapeutic tourism, as well as the institutionalization of forest therapy in education and other sectors. This section aims to emphasize the importance of connecting biodiversity, socio-cultural values, sustainable management and innovative solutions in unlocking the forest’s diverse potential for a thriving non-wooden economy.
Key topics:
- Creation of Healing Forests and Therapeutic Forest Environments
- Non-Wood Forest Products and Services
- Nature-Based Tourism Development
- Forest Pedagogics and Outdoor Education
- Forest Management for Public Health
- Herbs and Medicinal Forest Plants
- The Sacred Value of Forests
Instructions for abstract submission:
Abstracts should be submitted by using the abstract submission template (MS Word template) and uploaded to the application form with additional contact information until the 31st May 2024.
Guidelines for abstracts:
Abstracts should not be shorter than 150 words and not longer than 250 words and submitted in the English language. Do not include figures, tables, or attachments in the abstract. The use of footnotes and endnotes is not allowed.
The abstract should indicate the title of the article, full name/s of the author/s, academic qualifications, academic title (if applicable) and affiliated institution, followed by the highlights (up to three), content of the abstract and up to five key words.
The submitted abstracts should be relevant to one of the two theme sections. The Scientific Committee will select abstracts deemed suitable for oral presentation. The accepted abstracts will be prepared in the e-book of abstracts. Other abstracts can be developed into a poster. Further information on poster format and the poster session will be made available soon.
Deadline: 31st May 2024
Information about decisions on abstracts will be announced around 1st of July 2024.
Formal requirements
Language: English
Length: Max 250 words
- No tables, figures and/or diagrams, footnotes and endnotes
- Presentation title: not more than 15 words
- Names of all the authors, affiliation, e-mail
- Name of designated presenter, affiliation, e-mail
- Highlights: up to 3
- Key words: up to 5
Accepted formats: Microsoft Word Document (.doc, .docx)
If you have any questions related to abstract submission, please contact us at programm@isft.info.
We look forward to your active participation in the design of the scientific program for the ISFT congress in Lithuania.
On Behalf of the Scientific Committee,
Prof. Jūratė Macijauskienė, geriatrician, Dean at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Chair of the committee;
Alex Gesse, executive director, trainer and mentor at Forest Therapy Hub, board member of International Society of Forest therapy, Co-Chair of the committee;
Prof. Dr. Horst Klinkmann, Co-Founder of BioCon Valley and founding president of International Society of Forest Therapy;
Dr. Won Sop Shin, Korea, professor at Chungbuk National University in Korea and holding Chair of Korea Forest Therapy Forum;
Manfred Baum, acting president of International Society of Forest Therapy;
Prof. Liisa Tyrvainen, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland;
Prof. Simon Bell, Estonian University of Life Sciences | EMU · Department of Landscape Architecture, PhD;
Dr. Katarzyna Simonenko, MD, PhD, psychiatrist, medical practitioner and a scientific researcher, PhD in psychiatry. Director of forest therapy center in Poland, Bialystok;
Dr. Vitalija Povilaitytė-Petri, pharmacist, transdisciplinary research of medicinal and food plants at University of Mons, Belgium;
Prof. Raimondas Kubilius, cardiologist, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences;
Doc. dr. Lolita Rapolienė, at Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipėda University;
Dr. Stanislovas Čepinskas, Landscape and heritage specialist.