This is the presentation of Rik De Vreese at the event "Enabling nature-based health and social care through Knowledge Alliances" of the 1st Decemeber 2021. This event was jointly organized by Green4C and Connecting Nature. Learn more about the event here: https://www.greenforcare.eu/news/green-care-knowledge-alliances/

2. Green Care market outlook & Green4C Alliance
Rik DE VREESE, European Forest Institute (EFI)
Contributors: Cecilia Fraccaroli, Siebe Briers, Dennis
Roitsch, Annabel Soer, Catie Burlando, Illaria Doimo, Colm
O’Driscoll, Barbara Öllerer, Monika Humer, Dominik
Mühlberger, Tahia Devisscher, Matilda van den Bosch,
Elena Petronela Candrea

3. Methodology
GCT
• Survey (n=21)
• 4 Interviews
UGC
• Survey (n=10)
• 3 Interviews
• 51 NBS
initiatives from
Urban Nature
Atlas
FBC
• Survey (n=40)
• Focus group
discussion (4)
• 3 Interviews
SA
• Interviews
with experts
from 5 case
study
countries
• Focus group
How has the market been developing and how it will develop?

4. Start of
initiative
5-10 years ago Diverse Longer time ago Depending on
country
Where
provided?
Rural public forests
(1-5 ha)
managed natural
area with quiet areas
and recreational infra
(trails, cycling roads)
Public urban
parks and
woodlands
Farms in rural
areas
#employees Often none None to few Max. 50 Diverging
Beneficiaries/
users
General public Tourists interested in
sustainability and
health
Public sector
(schools,
hospitals)
People with
special needs,
vulnerable or
“at-risk” groups
Financing Own financial
resources
Own financial
resources
Public funding Need for public
funding
Forest-based
Care
Social
Agriculture
Urban
Green
Care
Green
Care
Tourism
Green Care market in Europe

5. Future trends
•Customer base and revenue are expected to increase
•COVID-19 may have positive effects on the recognition of the sector and innovation
(e.g., virtual reality in forest therapy and online forest bathing)
•Need to bring evidence and raise awareness on the benefits of GC
•Key role of private sector to develop the sector and bring sustainable financing
• Health: insurance health companies and practitioners (FBC, UGC, SA)
• Tourism: destination management organisations (GCT)
•Need to establish a unique European certification system

6. Conclusions
•Green Care markets are still at an early stage expected to grow, but they may remain niche markets
•Green care initiatives at the nexus of health, wellbeing and sustainability in everyday life, education and
tourism BUT need further evidence, professionalism, promotion and recognition
•You will not become rich when being a Green Care practitioner, but you enrich the society
•More information:
https://www.greenforcare.eu/news/market-outlooks-green-care/

7. The Green4Care Alliance
An alliance bringing together Green Care enthusiasts
from the green sector, agriculture, the health sector and
the social sector.
This includes Green Care providers and other Green Care
businesses, students, and researchers.

8. What does the Green4Care Alliance offer
The Alliance is a network that
• facilitates knowledge exchange,
• provides learning, internship and training
opportunities,
• supports networking and collaboration and
• stimulates the development of new
entrepreneurial activities
• streamlines dissemination of research outcomes
relevant to Green Care.
Photo by Manuel Will on Unsplash

9. Upcoming activities with the
Green4Care Alliance
• Green Care Specialisation School (Summer 2022)
• Travel grants Specialisation School
• Green4Care Hackathons (Autumn 2022)
Photo by Slidebean on Unsplash

10. Join the Green4Care Alliance
https://www.greenforcare.eu/join/

11. We need you –
to define the future direction
Rank the most urgently needed actions for Green Care
CC-BY-ND Dhora SRL

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
SPEAKER’S NAME, SURNAME AND ORGANISATION
EMAIL