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Dr. Qing Li

Founding member and chairman of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, a leading member of the Task Force of Forests and Human Health, and the vice president and secretary general of the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM), and one of the directors of the Forest Therapy Society in Japan. He is also the Managing Vice Chairperson of Forest Health Maintenance Research of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies.

He is the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine and immunology. He has been a medical doctor at Misato Care Center in Saitamo Prefecture, Japan; at the Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Nippon Medical School Hospital; an associate professor at Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; and a visiting fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

He started the forest medicine research (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing/Forest therapy) in 2004 and has published many articles in forest medicine in scientific journals. He established the new science, Forest Medicine and published Forest Medicine in 2012 in the USA, the book Shinrin-Yoku (The Art and Science of Forest Bathing – How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness) was published in United Kingdom in 2018, and he co-edited the book: International Handbook of Forest Therapy published in 2019

He holds a MD and PhD.

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Dr. Andreas Michalsen

Director, Physician-in-Chief, and Chair for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the Medical Center of the Charité University in Berlin.

He has different Board Certifications for Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine, Nutritional Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Complementary and Integrative Medicine.

His areas of expertise include: clinical trials, fasting and nutrition, lifestyle modification, mind-body medicine (meditation and yoga), forest medicine, chronic pain, metabolic diseases.

In addition, he has a vast number of publications including more than 200 scientific papers and 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Doctor of Medicine at the University of Bonn, in the Department of Cardiology; Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Duisburg-Essen, in the Department of Integrative Medicine; and Professor at the Medical Center of the Charité University in Berlin.

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Dr. Iwao Uehara

Professor of Silviculture laboratory of Forest Science Department of Tokyo University of Agriculture, he is an authorized counselor by The Japanese Association of Counseling Science, and President of The Society of Forest Amenity and Human Health Promotion in Japan.

He has worked as an Academic at Tokai Women's University; as an Associate Professor at Hyogo University; and as an Associate Professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture.

He holds a Ph.D. from Gifu University Graduate School, a Master of Science from Shinshu University Graduate School, and a degree in Silviculture from Tokyo University of Agriculture. He was also an exchange student at Michigan State University from March 1986 to March 1987.

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Dr. Guangyu Wang

Associate Dean, Associate Professor and Director of Asian Forest Research Centre at the Faculty of Forestry of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada.

His research interests include sustainable forest management, protected areas conservation and recreation, as well as parks and human well being. He has completed several research projects on landscape scale forest restoration and sustainable development projects, wherein he used system dynamic approaches, bioregional assessments and geographic information systems techniques to analyze the mechanisms of ecosystem degradation and model broad land use management. One of his major research focuses involves examining forest management practices in Asia, where he has been able to develop novel management plans and sustainable management models for Chinese forests. Furthermore, Dr. Wang is currently involved in several researches related to climate change, forest adaptation and carbon market mechanism.

As a previous business professional, Dr. Wang is also interested in the strategic planning and financial management of natural resources, in addition to the public perception and implementation efficiency of land use change policies.

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Dr. Anissa Hernández

Certified Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) since January 2020.

Currently, Dr. Hernández is collaborating with a diverse group of non-profit, for-profit and federal entities, such as the USDA Forest Service, National Forest Foundation, Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, The Mission Continues, Corazón Latino, Conservation Conexions and others, in the preparation and certification of the first ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail on National Forest lands, at El Yunque National Forest, Río Sabana Recreation Area in the community of Naguabo, Puerto Rico. She also contributes and supports other projects and organizations, such as Para La Naturaleza, La Jalda PR, Amigos del Bosque Toro Negro, and Finca Bee Happy, with her knowledge as a liaison and skills as a Forest Therapy guide through Forest Bathing Puerto Rico.

Dr. Hernández graduated as Magna Cum Laude from a Biology Bachelor's degree at UPR, Río Piedras Campus, where she collaborated on research studies of ecology and botanical sciences during her senior year. She obtained her Medicine Doctor degree from UPR Medical Sciences Campus in 1998. In 2004, she graduated from the Psychiatry Residency Program at UPR Hospital.

She studied herbology, Bach Flowers therapy, sound therapy, mindfulness, and Reiki, and she combined these complementary medicine methods to her conventional psychiatry practice for more than 10 years. She also participates as a poet and writer, being the author of two self-help books in Spanish: "Una Transformación al Amor" and "Mi Esencia".

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Dr. Won Sop Shin

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.

From 2013 to 2017, he also served as Minister 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. He is also working actively with international organizations such as FAO and International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine, and now holding Chair of Committee on Forestry, FAO.

He obtained his Ph.D. in forestry in 1992 from University of Toronto, Canada.

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Dr. Kathleen Wolf

Research Social Scientist with the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington (Seattle). Her research program focuses on human dimensions of urban forestry and urban greening, including public health.

From 2010-2018 Dr. Wolf was a research associate with the US Forest Service, Pacific NW Research Station working on a research program about Urban Forestry and Stewardship. She has also worked professionally as a landscape architect and as an environmental planner, and now works to integrate scientific information into local government policy and planning. She is a member of or has served with national and international organizations that promote nature in cities - the International Society of Arboriculture, Society of American Foresters, the Washington State Community Forestry Council, a U Penn Institute for Urban Research Scholar, the American Planning Association, and is an Interdisciplinary Research Leaders fellow with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Wolf has presented her research at events throughout the world, including Australia, Russia, Mexico and Japan. An overview of Dr. Wolf´s research programs and publications can be found at www.naturewithin.info; and a nature and health benefits review is at Green Cities: Good Health: www.greenhealth.washington.edu.

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Dr. Tamberly Conway

Founder and CEO, Conservation Conexions, LLC. She serves as an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) Certified Guide, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Consultant and Director of the ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Program..

She served for 12 years with the USDA Forest Service Conservation Education Program in Washington, D.C. where she focused upon diversity engagement in health and nature, forest health/human health relationships and community empowerment in conservation. During her tenure with the USFS, she worked to propel Forest Therapy within the agency and among the diverse communities through funding bilingual Forest Therapy sessions at community events, engaging with Park Rx America in health and nature collaborations, and the implementing of the first-ever bilingual ANFT Forest Therapy training in collaboration with a number of diverse partner organizations.

Dr. Conway is also serving to advance the first ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail on National Forest lands, on El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico.

She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Management from McNeese State University, a M.S. in Forest Recreation Management, and a Ph.D. in Forestry, focusing on Human Dimensions in Natural Resources from the College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University.

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Ms. Paula Pijoan Velasco

Founder of Respira Bosque and certified guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, pioneer institution in training of Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing.

Through Respira Bosque, she offers guided tours in Baja California. She has studies in Oceanology and a master's degree in Ecosystem Management in Arid Zones, which has led her to fall in love with the native vegetation of Baja Californi. Dor more than 12 years, she has dedicated herself to spreading and promoting knowledge and care, being a founding member of the Baja California Native Plant Society.

During the same years she began a personal meditation practice and her relationship with nature changed completely. Looking for a way to share the experience, she found the practice of Shinrin Yoku, or Forest Bathing.

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Dr. Robert Zarr

Founder & Medical Director of Park Rx America. Board-certified pediatrician at Unity Health Care, located in Washington, DC, where he cares for low-income and immigrant populations.

Dr. Zarr is also a certified nature and forest therapy guide. With Dr. Zarr’s leadership, Park Rx America has partnered with USDA Forest Service, to create the first of its kind continuing education activity on nature and human health, specifically designed for healthcare professionals.

He previously served on the national park prescription steering committee and as an advisor to the National Park Service on park prescriptions.

Dr. Zarr received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Baylor College of Medicine and Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health.