The nature prescription and biodiversity walks, rethinking the link with living things in a One Health care relationship
During the One Health day organized on April 22, 2024 at the University of Liège, the need to rediscover natural spaces was addressed during activities supervised by the Centre de Santé Intégrée des Carrières (CSIC) and the asbl LacYme, active in integrating the environment into health and well-being issues. The event, which brought together health professionals, academics, associations and citizens, highlighted innovative practices that bring people closer to nature to improve their well-being and better understand environmental issues.
Nature-based prescribing: an emerging practice worldwide
Nature-based prescribing, although a recent phenomenon, is gaining in popularity among healthcare professionals worldwide. Nolwenn Lechien, a graduate of ULiège's Master in Public Health Sciences and member of the Centre de Santé Intégrée des Carrières (CSIC), opened the discussion by explaining how this innovative approach is transforming the way we approach healthcare. The principle: doctors and other healthcare professionals recommend activities in natural environments to their patients, as an integral part of their curative and preventive strategies. According to its promoters, this practice helps to reduce anxiety, improve concentration and boost immunity. Activities such as forest walks, gardening or simply being in green spaces can improve people's well-being. Based on various studies, doctors and other healthcare professionals in countries such as Canada, the UK and Japan are already recommending these practices as treatment supplements, particularly for patients suffering from mental malaise or chronic stress-related illnesses.
Nature prescriptions actually achieve a dual objective. They improve people's health, which is their primary aim, but they also lead to ecological awareness, opening up a relationship of mutual care between the individual and his or her natural environment. This practice thus opens up the possibility of "co-benefits" between human and ecosystem health, representing a practical expression of the One Health concept.
Solutions proposed by participants
The exchanges during this activity were rich and varied, focusing on concrete solutions to promote this practice. Suggestions included :
- extend nature prescriptions to other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists and physiotherapists,
- create "ressourcement services" in hospitals, where patients could receive a nature prescription to complement their treatments,
- take into account inequalities in access to nature, particularly in urban areas,
- rethink the very notion of "prescription", giving priority to the creation of lasting habits rather than one-off recommendations.
Lacyme's exploratory walk: rediscovering green spaces, making the invisible visible
In addition to the discussions, Alice Mouton, Elisa Baldin and Florian Zanatta of the non-profit organization LacYme proposed a "biodiversity walk" at the Sart Tilman site. LacYme, founded in January 2021, is a collective, multidisciplinary citizen laboratory focused on (mainly urban) ecology. Its goal is to disseminate and share keys to understanding the ecosystems we share, through experiments in exploring places and the biodiversity they harbor. In recent years, LacYme has built a network of partners active in biodiversity conservation and ecological transition, as well as in the arts and humanities.
The non-profit organization organizes various activities and events for the general public, exploring contemporary representations of nature and the city from different perspectives (historical, landscape, ecological, etc.). These activities include "biodiversity walks," such as the walk organized during One Health day. LacYme proposed an exploratory walk on the Sart Tilman site, allowing participants to explore the open spaces of the campus and see the different aspects of the site, in particular its history, mobility issues, noise and ecological dimensions, architectural qualities and the relationship between the vegetated environments and the mineral surfaces that coexist there.
By sensitizing participants through direct observation of the sites, this activity demonstrates its educational potential, awakens ecological awareness and initiates a dialogue about their conservation. In this way, the association helps to reconnect citizens with the environment in which they live.
Universities and associations: a valuable partnership
These exchanges are in keeping with the spirit of the One Health approach, which aims to strengthen links between the various scientific disciplines while fostering collaboration with players in the field. Meetings between associations such as CSIC or LacYme, as well as with researchers and citizens, enable the co-construction of innovative solutions to meet the challenges of health and sustainability.
Through these collaborations, the Université de Liège illustrates its role as a key player in promoting shared, sustainable well-being. The day also illustrated how direct exchanges between the academic world and other societal players open up new perspectives for rethinking our links with nature.
Our partners
Centre de Santé Intégrée des Carrières
Contacter LacYme : contact@lacyme.org
