Professor at Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. President of the Japanese Society of Forest
Medicine, Director of the Society of Forest Therapy, Vice President and Secretary General of
INFOM/International Society of Natural and Forest Medicine
For the first time in Croatia, the meaning of "Shinrin-yoku", the old Japanese method of regeneration of the human organism, which is only provided by enjoying the benefits of the forest, is presented and explained. Dr. Qing Li from Nippon School of Health gave this method a new scientific basis and it has traveled the world under the name of Forest Bathing.
Experts from around the world, whose names are listed in the congress program, decided to participate in our congress on forest bathing. Forest bathing has become a new trend in year-round sustainable tourism, one with an emphasis on individual well-being in forest surroundings, having in mind that the forest is man's cheapest and closest pharmacy. The forest needs to be nurtured and made ecologically sustainable so that people can establish a close relationship with it and thus be able to appreciate it.
The variety of experiences of our lecturers will be interesting to both individuals and experts from medicine, forestry, and public and private sectors. In addition to the presentations, workshops on this topic will also be organized.
Professor at Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. President of the Japanese Society of Forest
Medicine, Director of the Society of Forest Therapy, Vice President and Secretary General of
INFOM/International Society of Natural and Forest Medicine
Dean of the University of Applied Health Science, Zagreb
Dekan Zdravstveno veleučilište Zagreb, Zagreb
Prof. dr. sc. Krešimir Rotim graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, and today he is one of the most respected neurosurgeons in Europe and worldwide. He is the author of several capital textbooks in the fields of anatomy, surgery, neurosurgery and clinical branches of medicine. Published almost 150 papers in prestigious world journals. He currently holds leading positions in the health care system and higher education system and has been elected to leadership positions in a number of the most prestigious medical organizations and associations. Among the a number of functions we highlight the following:
Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, UHC Sisters of Mercy; Editor-in-Chief Acta Clinica Croatica; President Croatian Spine Surgery Society; President Croatian Society for Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery ; Vicepresident Croatian Neurosurgical Society; Founder and Honorary President Southeast European Neurosurgical Society (SeENS); World Academy of Neurological Surgery (WANS) Active member; European Academy of Science and Arts Active member; World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Past Vicepresident, C&B Committee member; EANS Global & Humanitarian Committee Active member; Chief Medical OfficerCroatian Football Association.
He received the Award of the City of Zagreb for top achievements in medicine, and with the decision of the President of the Republic of Croatia he was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the image of Katarina Zrinska in September 2010.
Founder/CEO, Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs
Title of Presentation
„Way of the Guide and Relation Forest Therapy : Implications for Reserch“
„Način vođenja i relacijska šumska terapija: implikacije za istraživanje“
Amos Clifford is the founder of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs and author of the best selling Your Guide to Forest Bathing (Conari Press 2018). Amos founded Sky Creek Dharma Center in Chico, California, where he emphasized the importance of meditation practice in wild places. Amos is also widely known for his work in restorative justice. He is founder of the Center for Restorative Process, where he has led the inquiry into how the principles of restorative justice can inform ways to heal the broken relationships between humans and the more-than-human world of nature. Amos holds a BS in Organization Development and an MA in Counseling from the University of San Francisco. Amos has been the primary developer of ANFT's acclaimed training programs.
President of Korea Forest Therapy Forum
Title of Presentation
„The Korean experience of forest therapy“
„Korejsko iskustvo šumske terapije“
Won Sop Shin obtained his Ph.D. in forestry in 1992 from University of Toronto, Canada. Dr. Won Sop Shin is a professor at Chungbuk National University in Korea. He has lots of experience in research and conducting projects on forest and human health for about 30 years. His main research interest is psychological benefits from forest and nature experiences. During the years of 2013-2017, he also served as Minster of Korea Forest Service (KFS). During his term, KFS developed many new forest policies relating to using forest for human health and welfare. He is now a Head of Graduate Department of Forest Therapy at Chungbuk National University enrolling about 150 students in masters’ and Ph.D. programs. Prof.Won Sop Shin is working actively with international organizations such as FAO and International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine.
INFOM-certified Forest Health Expert｜International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine
Vice Chairperson of the specialty Committee of Forest Health Maintenance Research of WFCMS｜World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies
Head of IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute for Forest Medicine and Forest Therapy
Title of Presentation
"Being in the Forest. The natural response to psychological stress and lifestyle diseases“
Scientific advisor at the Institute for International Scientifice Cooperation of Southeast Europe (EFISEE) of the Croatian Forestry Institute.
Title of Presentation
„How forest ecosystem services contribute to human well-being“
„Kako šumski ekosistemi utječu na ljudsko zdravlje i sveukupni balans organizma“
Professor of Medicine, Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, President of Turkish Association of Thermal Medicine and Balneology.
Title of Presentation
„Why and how forests affect human health“
„Zašto i kako šume utječu na ljudsko zdravlje“
Assistant Dean of Edward Bernays University College: The combination of dendrotherapy and phytotherapy through transformative tourism for the new age.
CEO and health tourism specialist, representative of the Republic of Croatia in Europen Spa Association ESPA, director of the Tourist Bord of Bjelovar-Bilogora County.
Menadžer i specijalist zdravstvenog turizma, predstavnik Republike Hrvatske u Europskom udruženju lječilišta - ESPA, direktor TZ Bjelovarsko Bilogorske županije.
Tourism research, Forest, Therapy South Eastern Europe – Forest Magic:
Inward journeys and simplicity of being, Jan Schmidt and Dr. Anne Rabes, Project ManagersBioCon Valley, Germany
Prof. of the University of Applied Health Science, Zagreb
Prof. Zdravstveno veleučilište, Zagreb
„Tree Hugging from the evidence-based medicine (EBM) perspective“
„Grljenje stabala iz perspektive medicine utemeljene na dokazima“
Department of Public Health and Health Services Research, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich: Healing and Medicinal Forests in a Rehabilitation/Spa Environment.
Odjel za javno zdravstvo i istraživanje zdravstvenih usluga, Sveučilišta Ludwig Maximilian u Munchenu: Ljekovite šume u rehabilitacijskom /lječilišnom okruženju.
Forest Science Departement of Tokyo University of Agriculture: Specific forest attributes that influence forest therapy”.
Odsjek za šumske znanosti Poljoprivrednog sveučilišta u Tokiju: Specifični atributi koji utječu na šumsku terapiju.“
Institute for Lowland Forestry, University and Environment of Novi Sad: Specific forest attributes that influence forest therapy.
Institut za šumarstvo i okoliš ,Sveučilište u Novom Sadu: Specifična svojstva šume koja utječu na šumsku terapiju.
Forest wellness - an instrument of health improvement and an innovative tourist offer