Forest welfare services - the missing link between forest policy and management in the EU

摘要

Term "Forest Welfare Services" is introduced referring to social and cultural services for the population based on forests and forest resources which aim to improve human health and well-being. They have been considered as part of the concept of Forest Cultural Ecosystem Services (FCES). The Forest Welfare Services are presented as a way in which the benefits of FCES reach a wide range of end users contributing to tackling a number of social and demographic problems of European societies. The aim is welfare services to be provided to the population through purposeful interactions with forests for improving human health and well-being. Intangible benefits of people-forest interacting are highlighted and main groups of Forest Welfare Services are identified, as follows: forest therapy, recreation, education, culture, sport activities. The Forest Policy for Human Well-being in South Korea and results from its implementation are presented as reference. Challenges for further integration of Forest Welfare Services in forest policies at different levels in EU are outlined based on good practices and lessons learnt.