19/08/2026
Portugal is now home to one of the world's only four officially certified "Therapeutic Forests", and it's the first one in the entire Iberian Peninsula. The forest is called Mata Nacional do Bussaco (Buçaco Forest) and is located near the town of Luso in the municipality of Mealhada, about two hours north of Lisbon.
The certification was awarded in July 2026 by the Healing Forest International Certification Office, placing Bussaco alongside just three other certified healing forests in Germany and Austria. The forest covers about 105 hectares and contains roughly 250 species of trees and shrubs, making it one of the most botanically diverse forests in Europe.
What makes a forest "therapeutic" isn't just that it's beautiful. To receive certification, it must meet specific criteria related to noise reduction, air quality, accessibility, biodiversity, walking trails, and designated areas for guided therapeutic activities and relaxation. Qualified forest therapists can lead programs designed to support mental and physical well-being.
The idea is closely related to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," which encourages people to immerse themselves in nature using all their senses. Research in this area has linked time spent in forests with reduced stress, lower blood pressure, improved mood, better sleep, and enhanced cognitive function, although the strength of the evidence varies depending on the study.
The shift in paradigm around how people view health - especially with holistic and functional health growing in awareness - is a good sign that humans are getting more in touch with themselves and their environments. It may be tough at this time to redesign major cities with human well-being in mind (as they produce the opposite of well-being), but this shift is moving in the right direction regardless.
