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Forest4Youth — Project Timeline

European policy and practice analysis for forest-based nature and virtual reality treatments for psychiatric adolescent patients

2025
11 May 2025 — Kick-off

Kick-off Meeting

Project launch, steering structure confirmed.

Deliverables & notes
  • Milestone — Steering Committee constituted; WP leads confirmed.
WP1 Governance Interreg NWE
Feb 2025

European policy and practice analysis for forest-based nature and virtual reality treatments for psychiatric adolescent patients

The review will cover formal and informal treatments, focusing on success factors, challenges, and evaluation methods from both mental health and forest management perspectives.

Deliverables & notes
  • D1.1.1 — Forest-based treatments for adolescents: a comprehensive report on existing practices.
  • D1.1.2 — Forest-based treatments for adolescents: a comprehensive report on existing practices.
  • D1.1.3 — Policy brief for psychiatric institutions, environmental agencies, governments.
  • D1.1.4 — Academic publications.
Activity 1.1WP1
2026
Jun 2026

Forest-based Care Protocol: theory → practice

Co-design of evidence-based interventions for the Forest-based Care Protocol. This protocol will feature a database of customizable forest-based interventions, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours, suitable for one-time engagements and a structured 4-week program.

Deliverables & notes
  • D1.2.1 — Forest-based Care Protocol for adolescents with mental health conditions
  • D1.2.2 — PPI group report
  • D1.2.3 — Guidance document for professionals
Activity 1.2WP1
Jun 2026

VR Forest-care protocol framework

Define how VR supports preparation and reinforcement; align with clinical and safeguarding requirements.

Deliverables & notes
  • D1.3.1 — Report on VR in Forest Therapy for Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorder
  • D1.3.2 — VR Forest-based protocol framework
Activity 1.3WP1VR
Jun 2026

Therapeutic forest framework

This activity focuses on developing comprehensive NWE framework for creating Therapeutic Forests, natural environments designed for psychiatric care.

Deliverables & notes
  • D1.4.1 — Therapeutic forest framework for adolescents with mental health conditions
Activity 1.4WP1
Sep 2026

Summary of the joint strategy

A summary document outlining the joint strategy for implementing forest-based therapy for adolescent mental health will be developed to ensure effective communication with stakeholders from the forestry and mental health sectors.

Deliverables & notes
  • D1.5.1 — Summary of the joint strategyForest-based Care Protocol for adolescents with psychiatric conditio
Activity 1.5WP1
Jun 2025 — Dec 2027

Local focus groups

The focus groups, being local, will evaluate the implementation of the protocol with professionals working directly with adolescents in local contexts.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.1.1 — 4 local focus groups
  • D2.1.2 — Assessment grids
  • D2.1.3 — Joint report on the focus groups
Activity 2.1WP2
Jun 2025 - Dec 2027

Pilot: clinical trials of forest-based therapy protocol

Baseline protocol, consent, and ethics packs prepared for pilot trials in participating sites.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.2.1 — Clinical eligibility framework for forest-based therapy
  • D2.2.2 — Implementation of trials of forest-based therapies: implementation report
Activity 2.2WP2
Dec 2026 - Dec 2027

Implementation of therapeutic forests in NWE: standardised methodology

This activity focuses on developing a standardised, evidence-based methodology to identify optimal forest sites for therapeutic interventions targeting adolescents in the project.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.3.1 — Joint method to select forest sites suitable for therapeutic purposes
  • D2.3.2 — Certification framework
Activity 2.3WP2
2027
22 Jan 2027

Transnational Mid-Term Conference

The Forest4Youth Trasnational Mid-Term Conference will take place in Dublin on the 22nd of January.

Stay tuned for more.
Interreg NWEF4Y
Dec 2027

Implementation of therapeutic forests in NWE: implementation

The next step is to identify and evaluate specific forest sites across NWE regions (BE-Wallonia and Brussels Region, FR-Marne, Ireland, and Luxembourg) that meet the criteria for therapeutic use.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.4.1 — Identification of 8 forest sites to implement pilot protocol
  • D2.4.2 — Recommendations for setting up therapeutic forests in NWE countries
Activity 2.4WP2
2028
Jun 2028

Pilot: Virtual Reality (VR) Forest Care Protocol

This activity aims to evaluate the mental health benefits of VR, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with real forest immersion.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.5.1 — Clinical conditions report for VR eligibility
  • D2.5.2 — Implementation of a pilot VR-based protocol for adolescents with mental health conditions
  • D2.5.3 — Comparative study: VR vs real forest
  • D2.5.4 — Design of VR natural environments specific to the project
Activity 2.5WP2
Jun 2028

Assessment of medium- and long-term impact of forest-based therapy in young users of mental health facilities

A mixed-methods approach will be used to evaluate long-term impacts, including surveys six and twelve months post-intervention to measure the effects.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.6.1 — Medium- and long-term impact of Forest-Based Therapy
  • D2.6.2 — Evaluation and guide for psychiatrists
  • D2.6.3 — Policy brief
    • To create lasting change in forest-based therapy interventions across the EU, short-term assessments are not enough. Medium- and long-term evaluations are necessary. This healthcare research framework promotes collaboration among stakeholders to examine the broader impacts, efficiency, and real-world functioning of interventions. It encourages a multi-perspective approach to refine interventions for meaningful implementation.
Activity 2.6WP2
Jan 2026 — Jun 2028

Sharing knowledge and experience: study visits

. These trips offer participants the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and best practices.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.7.1 — Implementation of 4 study visits
  • D2.7.2 — Reports from 4 study visits of pilot territories
    • During these visits, participants will explore psychiatric institutions for adolescents, therapeutic forests promoting mental health, and engage with local experts. These exchanges will encourage knowledge sharing and cross-cultural collaboration.
Activity 2.7WP2
Jan 2027 - Dec 2028

Reference Centres for Forest-Based Therapies

These centres will be repositories of knowledge and best practices from the project, offering resources like training materials, databases, scientific research, and guidance on setting up therapeutic forests.

Deliverables & notes
  • D2.8.1 — Reference centre implementation plan
  • D2.8.2 — Pilot reference centres
    • This activity aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and scalability of the therapeutic forest model by establishing dedicated reference centres for forest-based therapy in each participating country. These centres will act as national hubs for expertise, resources, and innovation in using forests for adolescent mental health treatment. They will serve as contact points for mental health professionals, foresters, policymakers, and families interested in developing and implementing forest-based therapy protocols for adolescents with mental health conditions.
Activity 2.8WP2
Dec 2027

A joint training programme for professionals: development

By enhancing the knowledge and skills of foresters and mental health professionals, this activity aims to support the implementation of forest-based therapies in NWE.

Deliverables & notes
  • D3.1.1 — Report on training needs
  • D3.1.2 — Joint training curriculum targeting mental health professionals and foresters
  • D3.1.3 — Implementation of pilot trainings with mix groups of foresters and health professionals
  • D3.1.4 — Implementation of training sessions of trainers
Activity 3.1WP3Training
Dec 2027 - Dec 2028

Training programme implementation with foresters and mental health professionals

The goal of this activity is to deliver the curriculum through a comprehensive training programme, equipping mental health professionals and foresters to implement forest-based therapies.

Deliverables & notes
  • D3.2.1 — Training workshops
  • D3.2.2 — Teaching Platform
Activity 3.2WP3
Jun 2028

Technical guide targeting forest managers and health professionals

This activity aims to develop a comprehensive technical guide for forest managers and health professionals to facilitate the adoption of the forest-based care protocols developed in the project.

Deliverables & notes
  • D3.3.1 — Forest-based Protocol: a Technical guide
    • The guide will provide practical advice and recommendations, ensuring consistent and effective implementation of forest-based therapeutic interventions for adolescents with mental health conditions.
Activity 3.3WP3
Jun 2028

Tailored guidelines for policymakers and public authorities

This activity aims to create a comprehensive policy advocacy document offering tailored guidelines for policymakers and authorities.

Deliverables & notes
  • D3.4.1 — Advocacy document: tailored guidelines for policy makers
  • D3.4.2 — Policy forums
The document's promotion will include policy forums targeting its primary users - policymakers and authorities.
Activity 3.4WP3Evaluation
2028

Transnational Final Conference

The Forest4Youth Final Conference will take place in Brussels. Date yet to be announced.

Soon
F4YInterreg NWE
202520272028