Event: The Accessible Forest (EU-cofunded project) — FREE online conference (19 Sept 2025)
Link to recordings & info: https://www.accessibleforest.com/en/
Invited talk: The Forgotten Population and the Importance of Nature for Regular Migrants
Presenter: Dr. Anna Baran (Karlstad University), representing the EU-cofunded ELLIPSE Resilience Enhancement ERE project
Why did we present ERE?
We brought ERE to The Accessible Forest to bridge rights and practice: if forests are to benefit everyone, then evidence on how nature regulates stress, restores attention, and strengthens social belonging must be translated into universal design and reasonable accommodation on the ground. Presenting “The Forgotten Population and the Importance of Nature for Regular Migrants,” Dr. Anna Baran connected wellbeing mechanisms with practical access – clear wayfinding, calming places, and multilingual information – so people with disabilities and migrants can participate safely and with dignity. For foresters, rangers, and nature educators, ERE offered insights that help support both people with disabilities and migrants’ resilience.
Highlights:
How forests boost wellbeing – key mechanisms
- Stress regulation: brief nature exposure lowers stress biomarkers and supports parasympathetic activity (calmer heart and breath).
- Attention restoration & mood: natural settings help replenish directed attention, improve mood, and reduce rumination.
- Social connection & safety: shared outdoor activities strengthen belonging and reduce isolation.
- Environmental buffering: trees mitigate heat and air pollution—public-health gains that matter most to vulnerable groups.
Who participated?
- People working in/with forests & nature sectors: adopt universal design and reasonable accommodation (clear wayfinding, resting points, step-free routes, multisensory signage) to make programs usable by all.
- Teachers/educators: integrate short, structured outdoor sessions (10–20 minutes) to improve attention and reduce stress.
- People with disabilities: CRPD Article 30 affirms the right to enjoy recreation in nature; accessible trails and supports enable participation and autonomy.
- Migrants: co-designed, multilingual activities in welcoming, clearly signed green areas foster belonging, language practice, and resilience – with opt-in participation for those with difficult forest associations.
Where to learn more?
Watch the recordings and see good practices: https://www.accessibleforest.com/en/
References:
- Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental Research, 166, 628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030
- Barboza, E. P., Cirach, M., Khomenko, S., et al. (2021). Green space and mortality in European cities: A health impact assessment study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(10), e718–e730. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00229-1
- United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) — Article 30. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html
- Gentin, S., Rai, S., & Plieninger, T. (2019). Nature-based integration of immigrants in Europe: A review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 43, 126379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126379