“This certification, placing us among a group of just four therapeutic forests worldwide and making us the first in the Iberian Peninsula, grants us global status and brings with it a great responsibility,” he highlighted.

On 17 July, the Bussaco National Forest will receive certification as the Iberian Peninsula’s first Therapeutic Forest, concluding an application process developed through a partnership between the Bussaco Forest Foundation and Destinature (Nature Tourism Development Agency).

According to the president of the Bussaco Forest Foundation, who has been in office for nearly two months, this certification entails a responsibility to “promote best practices in forest management and biodiversity preservation.”

“The forest possesses unique natural characteristics that make this certification possible; it represents a significant milestone in enhancing and adding value to nature tourism offerings, reinforcing the country's position in an emerging field that intersects nature, health, and well-being, while promoting the sustainable valorisation of its natural resources,” he noted.

The Bussaco Forest, located in the parish of Luso within the municipality of Mealhada (Aveiro district), was classified as a National Monument in December 2017. It currently covers about 105 hectares and boasts one of Europe's finest dendrological collections, with around 250 species of trees and shrubs, including notable specimens.