On Wednesday, 7 October, Slovenian Forestry Institute held a workshop at the experiential primary school Sole Libero in Vrhnika, Slovenia as part of the PHorestAll project.
In the school's forest classroom, we introduced the children to the activities and objectives of the PHorestAll project. Through a variety of engaging activities, the workshop highlighted the importance of forests for human health and well-being while encouraging children to reflect on the many benefits, or ecosystem services, that forests provide.
The children considered which forest ecosystem services were most important to them and used worksheets and stickers to evaluate different ecosystem services. During a guided forest meditation, they listened to the sounds of the forest, focused on their feelings, and explored how connecting with nature can influence their well-being.
In addition to activities focused on the relationship between people, their well-being, and forests, we introduced the children to the forest management system in Slovenia and its three key principles: multi-functionality, close-to-nature management, and sustainability. Through this, they learned how responsible forest management helps maintain healthy and resilient forests that provide numerous benefits for people, including opportunities for recreation, stress reduction, physical activity, and overall well-being.
To conclude the workshop, the children took part in an interactive game through which they explored the characteristics of stable, species-rich, and climate-resilient forests. They also discovered why such forests are important not only for biodiversity and climate adaptation, but also for preserving the many ecosystem services that support human health and quality of life.