1. IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health, ForHealth 2007-2014
Prof. Hannu Raitio, Director General
Finnish Forest Research Institute,
Coordinator of the IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health

2. Objectives of ForHealth
to facilitate the dialogue between health and forestry professionals
to strengthen the forestry perspective in international initiatives on health, biodiversity and climate change
to promote the implementation of health benefits of forests into practice, and to promote the management of the health risks connected with forests
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3. Priorities of ForHealth
Maximizing health benefits
mental and physical health benefits of forests (e.g. stress reduction and rehabilitation)
forest-derived pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
forest food and medicinal plants
improving living environments
Managing health risks
emerging infectious diseases
hazards
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4. Examples of seminars, sessions and events organised by ForHealth
Seminar on Forests and Human Health, 30 April, 2008, Marrakesh, Morocco
Information event ”Forests – promoting or harming human health?” at European Forest Week, 22 Oct, 2008, Rome
Side event “Forests, human health and well-being: findings of IUFRO’s recent science initiatives” at the XIII World Forestry Congress, 19 October, 2009 , Buenos Aires, Argentina (co-organiser)
Two sessions on "Health benefits of forests" at the XXIII IUFRO World Congress, August 2010, Seoul, Korea
IUFRO-SPDC Pre-congress training workshop on Forests and Human Health, August 2010, in connection with XXIII IUFRO World Congress, Seoul, Korea
Session “Nature and well-being” in the IUFRO Conference Forests for People, Alpbach, Tyrol/Austria, May , 2012 (co-organiser)
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5. Publications
Book: Colfer, C. (ed) Human Health and Forests: A Global Overview of Issues, Practice and Policy. Earthscan.
Electronic Newsletter
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6. Other activities
guidelines for health impact assessment of forestry projects (F-HIA)
active co-operation with the international Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM)
Finnish-Japanese research project “Stress reducing qualities of urban green areas”, funded by 330 000 € for the years by the Academy of Finland and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
 lobbying topics for the EU 7th framework progamme for research and development
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7. Forest
knowledge
Well-being
Know-how
Thank you
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