Nature and Health

Where Nature Becomes Medicine

Nature isn't just a place to visit—it's an evidence-based lever for health, sustainability, and social cohesion.

At UNature, we're pioneering the integration of nature into health practices to help our systems and communities embrace what science now confirms: contact with the natural world is essential for our physical and mental well-being.

Through our preventive and curative health innovation pillar, we translate cutting-edge research into real-world solutions — from burnout prevention programs to groundbreaking clinical interventions for young people facing mental health challenges.

We aim to create scientifically-validated pathways for people to access the healing power of the natural world.

Responding to our greatest health challenges

Figures from national health surveys and the Quality of Work Index reveal that more than 1 in 3 young people in Luxembourg show signs of mental health difficulties, 51% of our workers report psychological distress, and rising healthcare expenditures and demographic pressures threaten the sustainability of the social security system.

Yet within these challenges lies an opportunity — and a solution that's been with us all along.

The research, some of which conducted within Luxembourg, shows that regular contact with nature has profound and curative effects on:

  • Stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression

  • Cognitive performance, concentration, creativity, and learning

  • Immune, inflammatory, gut, and microbiome function

  • Cardiovascular and metabolic health

  • Social cohesion, empathy, and overall well-being

Nature's impact on health isn't anecdotal — it's measurable, repeatable, and increasingly recognized by healthcare systems around the world. We ground all our work in this evidence, continuously evaluating and refining our approaches to ensure meaningful, lasting impact

Our Vision for Luxembourg:
Europe's Healthiest Country 

We believe Luxembourg can become not only the wealthiest country, but also the healthiest in Europe. To achieve this vision, Luxembourg must:

  • Make prevention a priority in its health and social security strategy

  • Leverage nature as a scientifically-validated health asset

  • Integrate nature prescription pilots into the national care model

  • Use green spaces not only as ecological resources, but as health and human capital infrastructure

UNature stands ready to support the government in designing, piloting, and scaling these innovations—and in supporting the integration of efforts across various sectors and stakeholders.

What We’re Building

We're piloting new evidence-based health practices and programs that leverage the profound healing capacity of nature.

Forest4Youth: A New Frontier in Adolescent Mental Health

As lead partner of the Interreg North-West Europe project Forest4Youth, UNature is at the forefront of a pioneering European initiative to develop innovative forest-based mental health interventions for adolescents aged 12–18 in psychiatric care.

This four-year, €5.5 million collaboration brings together universities, clinicians, foresters, and mental health experts from five countries to co-design, pilot, and evaluate nature-based therapies that address the complex mental health needs of young people.

Together, we're answering a critical question: How can nature become part of the healing journey for the most vulnerable among us? 

Nature Prescriptions: From Global Practice to Luxembourg Policy

Nature-prescriptions programs and pilots are accelerating quickly around the world. Luxembourg can be next—and become a European reference. We’re currently developing research-informed policy recommendations tailored to Luxembourg's unique context, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Our goal is to create a clear roadmap for integrating nature prescriptions into Luxembourg's healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that contact with the natural world becomes a standard tool in prevention and treatment.

Other Programs & Services

  • Burnout Prevention: Evidence-based programming that helps individuals and teams maintain cognitive, mental, and physical health through regular nature contact

  • Stress Reduction Interventions: Tailored solutions for organizations seeking to support employee well-being through nature connection

  • Policy Development & Consultation: Research and recommendations to support government integration of nature-based health strategies

  • Professional Training: Courses and certification programs for healthcare providers interested in incorporating nature into their practice

Through these projects, UNature positions itself as a national innovation partner—ready to help Luxembourg transform its approach to health and well-being.