Doctors with forest officers trek & experience forest therapy
Over 100 senior doctors from major hospitals in Indore, along with top forest officers from Madhya Pradesh, participated in a 6-km thematic trek at Umarikheda Eco Park to explore the benefits of Forest Therapy and the One Health framework. The event was a collaborative effort between medical and environmental experts, aimed at fostering dialogue between human-health professionals and ecosystem managers.
The trek, which took place at the park, included routes showcasing wetland biodiversity and hill-watershed trails, designed to highlight the natural healing properties of forests and ecological processes. The event was organised by the Indore Forest Division.
PCCF and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) VN Ambade, stressed the importance of forests in maintaining public health, citing their role in providing clean air, safe water, and contributing to climate resilience. "If forests are healthy, communities remain healthy. One Health must be incorporated into public health planning," he remarked.
DFO Mishra explained the vision behind the initiative, stating, "Doctors heal individuals; forests heal societies." He shared the park’s evolving role as a District Environmental Learning and Forest Wellness Campus, aimed at integrating health, ecology, and community engagement. The park features educational amenities, including nature trails, a mud house, Swiss tents, watershed models, and an eco-restaurant.
IAS, executive eirector of MPIDC Himanshu Prajapati, underlined the importance of integrating environmental well-being into urban planning, stating, “It is crucial that we recognise the interconnectedness of our health and the health of the environment.”
Dr. Bharat Rawat highlighted the growing recognition of Forest Therapy as a preventive healthcare tool, while Dr. Apoorva Pauranik discussed the positive impact of nature on cognitive restoration and mental resilience.
As part of the event’s conservation efforts, the Forest Department distributed 100 saplings of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) plants to the participating doctors, symbolising the importance of native species and the ongoing work in biodiversity restoration within the region.
The event concluded with commitments for future collaborative initiatives focused on eco-health, forest wellness sessions, and public awareness programmes.
Over 100 senior doctors from major hospitals in Indore, along with top forest officers from Madhya Pradesh, participated in a 6-km thematic trek at Umarikheda Eco Park to explore the benefits of Forest Therapy and the One Health framework. The event was a collaborative effort between medical and environmental experts, aimed at fostering dialogue between human-health professionals and ecosystem managers.
The trek, which took place at the park, included routes showcasing wetland biodiversity and hill-watershed trails, designed to highlight the natural healing properties of forests and ecological processes. The event was organised by the Indore Forest Division.
PCCF and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) VN Ambade, stressed the importance of forests in maintaining public health, citing their role in providing clean air, safe water, and contributing to climate resilience. "If forests are healthy, communities remain healthy. One Health must be incorporated into public health planning," he remarked.
DFO Mishra explained the vision behind the initiative, stating, "Doctors heal individuals; forests heal societies." He shared the park’s evolving role as a District Environmental Learning and Forest Wellness Campus, aimed at integrating health, ecology, and community engagement. The park features educational amenities, including nature trails, a mud house, Swiss tents, watershed models, and an eco-restaurant.
IAS, executive eirector of MPIDC Himanshu Prajapati, underlined the importance of integrating environmental well-being into urban planning, stating, “It is crucial that we recognise the interconnectedness of our health and the health of the environment.”
Dr. Bharat Rawat highlighted the growing recognition of Forest Therapy as a preventive healthcare tool, while Dr. Apoorva Pauranik discussed the positive impact of nature on cognitive restoration and mental resilience.
As part of the event’s conservation efforts, the Forest Department distributed 100 saplings of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) plants to the participating doctors, symbolising the importance of native species and the ongoing work in biodiversity restoration within the region.
The event concluded with commitments for future collaborative initiatives focused on eco-health, forest wellness sessions, and public awareness programmes.