On October 3, 2025, the Cerdà Museum in Puigcerdà (Cerdanya, Spain) hosted the 1st International Symposium “Nature & Health: Research, Shared Perspectives, and Paths for Collaboration.”
The event convened experts from Spain and France to explore how contact with nature contributes to both mental and physical well-being. Discussions spanned topics such as forest therapy, “nature prescriptions,” public policy, and cross-border collaboration to strengthen networks between Catalonia and France.
The symposium featured keynote presentations from:
- Fanny Rouquette (Université Toulouse)
- Far Ferrer Antoni (University of Girona)
- Isabelle Anguelovski (Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability – BCNUEJ)
- Margarita Triguero-Mas (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya / BCNUEJ)
- Helen Cole (Autonomous University of Barcelona – UAB)
- Montse Bonany (Asociación Española de Horticultura y Jardinería Social y Terapéutica – AEHJST)
- Paula Cristóbal (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu – collaborator in GreenME WP3)
Each speaker highlighted cutting-edge research and practical approaches for integrating nature-based solutions into healthcare, community planning, and public policy. In particular, contributions emphasized how urban and rural green spaces can play a central role in reducing stress, promoting recovery, and fostering healthier, more resilient societies.
With simultaneous translation provided in French, Catalan, and Spanish, the symposium created an inclusive forum for international exchange. The event not only advanced research dialogue but also strengthened collaborative ties across disciplines and borders.
The symposium was co-organized and partly funded by GreenME through the UAB/UOC budget, with institutional support from BCNUEJ, ICTA-UAB, and AECT-HC/GECT-HC.
For more information about the GreenME project and its upcoming initiatives, visit: www.greenme-project.eu.