This activity is dedicated to establishing and validating indicators to support the characterization of green spaces (forests and urban parks), and horticulture and gardening contexts that have a high potential to promote health and well-being.

This activity aims to define, test and validate the NATURELAB assessment model (e.g., selection criteria for the participants, quantitative and qualitative assessment protocols and experimental designs), produce robust and scientific evidence in the demonstration of the causal relationship and short-, medium- and long-term benefits between nature-based therapeutic programmes and health and well-being.

It aims to design, validate and implement tailored nature-based therapeutic programmes to significantly improve the physical and mental health conditions of the participants in 15 experimental sites in 4 Demonstrator Fellows located in rural, coastal, and urban
areas of five European and Latin American countries (Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Germany and Peru) that will involve participants with different health conditions.

NATURELAB’s approach for societal uptake and behaviour change for Nature-based therapies (NBT) is based on social experimentation through real-life conditions in order to achieve an inclusive and robust spill-over effect in multiple sectors and to a broader audience.

Within this context, this activity seeks to confirm the sustainability of the NATURELAB methodology through its adoption by the public & private healthcare and social system; to engage local communities and stakeholders in co-shaping NBT in their countries, taking into account the values of nature, and biodiversity; and to propose feasible and realistic NTB policies in each country and at an EU level..

NATURELAB will organise three international workshops, two during the project 2nd and 3rd years, to communicate the results and consult stakeholders on the methodologies and approaches designed, and an International Forum, dedicated to presenting the major findings and guidelines to all stakeholders’ groups, including healthcare professionals and policymakers.