Rewilding the Mind: Nature Therapy as a Public Health Imperative in Urban Dubai

What Is Nature Therapy?

Nature Therapy, also known as ecotherapy or green care, is the intentional practice of engaging with the natural environment to support mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. It blends psychology, environmental science, and indigenous wisdom to harness the healing power of nature, transforming it into a vital public health resource.

Key Approaches Include:

• Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku): Mindful immersion in natural settings to restore calm and focus.

• Horticultural Therapy: Gardening and plant care to promote recovery and emotional balance.

• Animal-Assisted Therapy: Healing through connection with animals in open, natural spaces.

• Green Exercise: Movement in nature such as walking, yoga, cycling to enhance resilience.

• Therapeutic Landscape Design: Creating sensory gardens and trails that trigger restoration.

Backed by science, nature therapy reduces stress, lowers cortisol, and restores attention, with studies showing that just 120 minutes a week in nature can significantly boost happiness and life satisfaction.

In the UAE, nature therapy takes a desert-rooted form, celebrating local biodiversity such as ghaf forests, pollinators, and acacia trees. Initiatives like Terra’s 100 Hives program exemplify how reconnecting with native ecology can nurture both mind and environment.