FOREST FOREST

  • the coastal forest is unique in Germany
  • Pioneer in the development of indication-related healing forests and cure forests for rehabilitation and prevention
  • Forests are important oxygen producers and carbon dioxide reservoirs

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the only federal state in Germany that has several kilometres of coastal forests that directly line the beaches. Over 21% of the state's total area is covered by deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests. This considerable proportion of oxygen-rich forests contributes significantly to our state's mild stimulating climate and air that is low in allergens and pollutants. A walk in these extensive forests offers not only interesting and varied nature, but also recreation and peace for total relaxation and inner contemplation.

(534,962 ha of forest area in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, three national parks, five nature parks, three biosphere reserves, 400 nature conservation and landscape protection areas, 136 flora-fauna-habitat areas)

The forest with its special air and topographical features has been proven to have a comprehensive effect on human health. The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern spa association, with the support of the state, has been able to use the health resource forest in the spa and recreation resorts for prevention and rehabilitation in three projects and with the involvement of forestry, medicine, tourism and landscape architecture. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, designated healing forests and cure forests are subject to extensive protection. Depending on the location and condition of the forest, a wide variety of diseases can be treated. Specially trained forest therapists offer guidance and support.

Healing Forest +

Healing forests are forest areas designed for therapeutic use for special indications.

Treatments of diseases in the forest are suitable to favourably influence the extent of impairment caused by these diseases (tertiary prevention), if they are accompanied by trained therapists. Chronic diseases can be treated in a palliative way (palliation).(1)

National peculiarities are taken into account, e.g. in the definition of therapists. (2)

(1) Cf. definition according to the 1st «International Congress Health Potential Forest» in Heringsdorf/Germany 2017; supplemented and expanded in the statutes of the International Society of Forest Therapy (ISFT) based on the final declaration of the 3rd «International Congress Health Potential Forest» in Girona/Spain 2019 as well as linguistically corrected on 07.08.2020.

(2) It is recommended to always add this wording to the definition in order to take into account the national specificities of the liberal therapeutic professions.

Designated healing forests in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:

  • baltic sea spa Heringsdorf
  • children healing forest baltic sea spa Heringsdorf
  • Plau am See
  • Klink (Müritz Clinic)

Healing forests under construction:

  • Bad Doberan (Bad Doberan mud spa)
  • Waren (Müritz) spa - Am Nesselberg
Cure forest +

Cure forests are forest areas which, due to various characteristics, are predestined to have a broad health-promoting effect.

Stays in spa forests can help to reduce progression, recurrence or chronification (secondary prevention). The infrastructural requirements take this extended function into account.

Designated spa forest in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:

  • baltic sea spa Graal-Müritz
  • Krakow on the lake

Spa forests under construction in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:

  • Baltic spa Wustrow
  • Waren (Müritz) spa - Ecktannen