The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles.Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union 's COST Action E39 Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing, and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America.

The link between modern lifestyles and increasing levels of chronic heart disease, obesity, stress and poor mental health is a concern across the world. The cost of dealing with these conditions places a large burden on national public health budgets so that policymakers are increasingly looking at prevention as a cost-effective alternative to medical treatment. Attention is turning towards interactions between the environment and lifestyles. Exploring the relationships between health, natural environments in general, and forests in particular, this groundbreaking book is the outcome of the European Union's COST Action E39 'Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing', and draws together work carried out over four years by scientists from 25 countries working in the fields of forestry, health, environment and social sciences. While the focus is primarily on health priorities defined within Europe, this volume explicitly draws also on research from North America.

Today, on a global level, the health sector and social services need alternatives to traditional medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, and work training. Green Care is the use of agricultural farms and the biotic and abiotic elements of nature for health and therapy-promoting interventions as a base for promoting human mental and physical health, as well as quality of life. Animals, plants, crops, gardens, forests, and the landscape are used in recreational or work-related activities for: psychiatric patients, mentally disabled persons, people with learning disabilities, depression and burnout problems, or drug and alcohol addiction history, including youth and elderly people, young offenders, prisoners, people affected by natural disasters, and social service clients. Green Care practices may be also useful for anyone who wants to maintain a health and quality life, and for students in farm education. "Green Care" is a base for promoting mental and physical health, through normal farming activity and is a growing movement to provide health, social and educational benefits through farming for a wide range of people, providing services on a regular basis for participants who attend the farm or the forest activities regularly as part of a structured care, rehabilitation, therapeutic or educational program. Green Care is a new multidisciplinary science. Besides science and practice, Green Care is a Global Innovative Movement with healthcare, social, economical, educational, and political dimensions. This book presents up-to-data scientific knowledge in Green Care, its definitions and theories, and findings to show the beneficial effects of Green Care on human health and well being. Also, it presents the social, political, economical, and educational aspects of Green Care.