Plant more Trees on Earth Day

We all need oxygen to survive. Each single big tree could provide oxygen for 4 people each day. According to the study by the US Forest Service's Northern Research Station, 2.4 billion tons of carbon and 8.8 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere were removed annually by the global forests during 1990-2007. 80% world's terrestrial species are found in the forests, which occupied 31% of the Earth's surface. An healthy Earth requires a balanced biodiversity ecosystem for the health benefits of human beings, for protected water resources, soil quality, recovery from disasters, food and income, biological control.and source of medicine. Over 28,000 species of forest plants are used in medicine. Studies have found that exposure to phytoncides, antimicrobial compounds released by forests, could reduce stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and boost immune system. Since 1998, New Zealand's Green Prescription (Green R) initiative enabled written advice from a health professional (usually doctor or practice nurse) to be active and improve diet. In Sweden, Swedish Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP) in primary care to increase patients' physical activity levels for at least 12 months. In 2010, approximately 5 PAPs for every 1000 people in Sweden had been prescribed. According to American College of Sports Medicines's ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, frequency, intensity, time, type, volume and progression (FITT VP) are included in the written prescription. Exercise Rx should include aerobic resistance, flexibility and balance. Hiking and aerobic walking in mountainous region are some examples. For people having back pain or other medical issues, progression of exercise prescription is recommended. In UK, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommended people on back pain to have group exercise programs that include biomechanical, aerobic, and mind-body approaches. As such, forest therapy is a good fit. Nature prescriptions are emerging as a supplement to standard medical care. In UK, Green social prescribing 2021-2023 project had transformed the mental health services and increased social prescribing for the NHS Long Term Plan and the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan to engage people spend time in green and blue spaces. In Canada, PaRx is the first national, evidence-based nature prescription program  driven by health-care professionals who want to improve their patients’ health by connecting them to nature. Recently I joined the other ANFT guides based in Hong Kong to have dinner discussion with Dr. Won Sop Shin, professor at Chungbuk National University in Korea, Chair of Korea Forest Therapy Forum and adjunct professor in Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Dr. Won is also active member of INFOM (International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine) conducting researches involving nature and forest medicine aims to generate global influence through international cooperation. In South Korea, 37 forests would be designated as Healing Forests within the next few years to provide specialized forest healing services to the public by trained instructors from Korean Forest Service (KFS), from prenatal classes in the woods to forest kindergartens. Children who are school bullies would be delivered to a national forest for a 2-day program by a “Happy Train” in order to learn to be nice! .

However, worldwide forest shrinks by an average of 4.7 million hectares per year. 10 million hectares of trees were removed from forests around the world each year, meanwhile only 5 million hectares of trees were planted each year throughout 2015-2020. With upcoming Earth Day on 22 April 2024, why not join us to plant a tree and experience forest therapy for the health of our Earth and ourselves?

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