GREENHEALTH Kick-Off Meeting in Murcia - a nature boost
The partnership of GREENHEALTH project met to kick-off the project in the marvellous setting of Sierra Espuña Regional Natural Park in the Murcia Region of Spain.
The participants travelled from Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden to meet in person. Attendees also included key stakeholders from Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.
Before getting down to the business of fine-tuning deadlines, methodology, and responsibilities to achieve GREENHEALTH’s goals in the coming four years (see the agenda here) the partners were welcomed by the Counsellor of Environment, Mar Menor, Universities and Research Juan María Vázquez and the Murcia´s Region General Director on Natural Environment María Cruz Ferreira Costa.
The group's aspiration was clear - within the next four years the goal is to make EU regions more biodiversity resilient by improving the management of European Protected Areas through strengthening links between biodiversity protection and human health and well-being.
Simply put, the GREENHEALTH project wants to create linkages between health and environmental policies and incorporating human health initiatives into Protected Area programmes.
There is a demonstrated link between nature and human health and well-being. The health benefits of green and blue spaces are well documented for children, whose physical and mental development is enhanced by living, playing and learning in a green environment. Adults and elderly also benefit significantly from visiting green and blue spaces, through improved physical health and social well-being.
To raise inspiration towards the months to come and to create a stronger bonding within the partners, the participants had also the pleasure of visiting the Snow Wells visit: “Pozos de la Nieve” and to enjoy a special Murcia “forest therapy” experience.
GREENHEALTH´s next face-to-face meeting is planned for November / December 2023 in Croatia and hosted by the Dubrovnik-Neretva Administration.