The Health from Nature programme

The Health from Nature programme aims to promote health and well-being by strengthening people’s exposure to nature in everyday life and within social and health care services.

The ten-year Health from Nature programme is based on extensive research evidence on the health benefits of nature. The programme was launched in 2026.

The programme’s objectives combine health promotion and disease prevention, increasing well-being for people and the environment, and improving the sustainability of the national economy.

The aims are to:

• increase health and well-being and reduce chronic non-communicable diseases. This helps curb the growth of social and health care expenditure and supports the national economy.
• increase awareness and understanding of nature’s health benefits in society.
• integrate nature’s health benefits into education, guidelines and practices in social and health care.
• improve people’s opportunities for contact with nature in everyday life.
• incorporate nature’s health benefits into land-use planning and the design and maintenance of local environments.
• increase physical activity and time spent in nature.

Within the Health from Nature programme we will streghten expertise share good practices, organise trainings, develop recommendations, produce materials, and take other concrete actions to achieve the goals.

We need new solutions to promote health and well-being. If nature’s health effects were widely adopted, Finland could improve health and well-being and thereby also curb the growth of social and health care expenditure.

The programme welcomes participation from actors in the social and health care sector, municipalities, organisations and working life, among others. In addition, the programme provides information and support to decision-makers. Active communication is also carried out to increase awareness of nature’s health benefits and to ensure that nature’s positive effects are more widely utilised.

The programme is coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). It is planned and implemented by a coordination group consisting of actively involved organisations such as Sitra, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finnish Allergy, Skin and Asthma Federation, Finnish Lung Health Association, MIELI Mental Health Finland, the Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland, the Age Institute, the Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities, the City of Vantaa, Terveystalo, and Metsähallitus’ Parks & Wildlife Finland.

We are seeking new partners to fund and implement the programme. We are happy to discuss different forms of cooperation! Participation is possible, e.g., through implementing nature-based health actions within one’s own organisation or together with partners.