6th International Congress ISFT – Forest and Its Potential for Health
Stana Luxford Oddie – October 15, 2024
Surrounded by forests, natural mineral springs, a gently flowing stream and the ever present Nemunas River, I found myself returning, for the first time ever, to the homeland of my ancestors on my father’s side. They fled during WWII like so many Lithuanians. It was an honour and privilege, as a certified ANFT Forest Therapy Guide and Trainer from Canada, to attend the 6th International Congress, International Society of Forest Therapy (ISFT) organized by Association Gyvo Žalio dedicated team in Druskininkai, Lithuania. Researchers, experts and professionals from around the world came together to share what our hearts already know, that there is healing for all in the forest when we slow down and remember.
Four Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) Presentations
Keynote speaker, Won Sop Shin from Korea, inspired us with his over 30 years of research about the importance of connections between forests and human health. One example he shared is about the Korea Forest Welfare Institute established in April 2016 as an agency that focuses on “Forest Welfare for life cycle service” – “From cradle to grave, life with forests.” The agency focused on supporting people’s immersion in forests from birth through early childhood to adolescence to early and middle and mature and late adulthood until after death.
In the talks themed: “Nature intervention applications for mental health and wellbeing”, ANFT Guide and Trainer, Manuela Siegfried, from Costa Rica, related her experience guiding people with addictions, specifically following the AA twelve step process. Manuela shared how the ANFTs Relational Forest Therapy supported them on their journeys.
Other themed talks focused on: “Non wood economy: Developing Forest Therapy Tourism and Healing Forests” which included a 
presentation by another ANFT Guide Beáta Szablics, from Switzerland. Beáta shared insights into the growth in wellness travel trends for the tourism industry. Another session’s theme: “Forest Interventions in Practice: Practical Applications and Legal Considerations”, a presentation by ANFT Guide Liz Dawes, United Kingdom, expanded awareness by sharing her experiences in law, sales and marketing within the wellness industry.
The session called “Forest protection and sacred value, forest and human relation” included speakers such as Josep-Maria Mallarach, an Environmental Consultant with 40 years of experience from Spain, who shared thoughts about the sacredness of forest spaces. Moises Hernandez, a descendant of the Lenca Mayan people, raised in the Honduran forest, also shared about his work to ‘bridge the gap between the city and the forest’. ANFT founder, Amos Clifford, from the US, kicked off this session by cracking open our hearts with his stories, and reminding us of the unique relational element that ANFT offers. Afterwards Amos’s workshop continued to deepen into the importance of relationship building as a key piece of the puzzle of the healing that happens in a reciprocal way.
For me, the cultural evening touched me deeply, hearing the songs of my ancestors and their deep connection and love for the land. The folk music group Kūlgrinda offered a Lithuanian neopagan ceremonial performance that had many of us singing and moving. To everyone’s delight we culminated the congress with outdoor practices in the forest. Magic often seemed to happen in-between sessions during meals or coffee breaks and during outdoor workshops where the exchange of hearts and minds were shared. Many participants were fortunate to experience Amos Clifford guiding an ANFT relational forest therapy walk on a final morning of the congress. Being guided was a way to be with the land, each other, and to complete our time together.
Over and over again, the research presented at the congress validated and supported past findings, that spending time in the forest is good for us in so many ways, from supporting our mood to reducing stress in both body and mind. With the diverse numbers of guides from different countries, continents, and cultures, I was reminded that there are different versions of Forest Therapy, that may depend on what your area of expertise is and/or your trainings and focus. Forest Therapy can mean many different things depending on your lens or the hat you wear. What I come away with is a renewed clarity, that we are a part of, not separate from the forest, the earth, our home, and all the beings that are our family.
Before embarking on my trip to Lithuania, I asked my 91 year old Grandmother (Nana) if there was anything she wanted me to share with the land? She said to tell the land that she would be back. And I realized that she had returned to her homeland through me. Much gratitude to all the efforts so many people put forward for the congress to manifest. Lithuania is truly a magical and welcoming place filled with beautiful people and beings where I feel at home and look forward to returning to again.
Based in Canada, Stana is a certified ANFT Forest Therapy Guide (cohort 6 in 2016) and a trainer (since 2018). She is in her 26th year as a nature educator with Cataraqui Conservation. She is passionate about supporting relationship building and nature connection for all ages in all seasons.