The 12th application Deadline date : End of January, 2016
Currently accepting applications for new candidate of “Forest Therapy” certification, and for locations to receive the designation of “Forest Therapy Road”. Please see the application form for details. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by E-mail.

We conduct psychological and physiological experiments in order to authorize “Forest Therapy” certification and “Forest Therapy Road”. As a result, we have discovered that a body physiologically relaxes in a variety of environments. We perform the physiological experiments in either natural forest locations and urban environments and measure a person’s response such as heart rate variability and the blood pressure of the participants. Using those collected data, we provide scientific evidence of the effects of forests on humans.

2016	The end of Jan	Application deadline
	Feb to Mar	First screening (document review )
	Apr	Notification date for the first screening results
	Apr to May	Sign contract for the field physiological and psychological experiments
	May to Jun	Field work（preliminary inspection of area)
	Jul to Oct	Conduct the field physiological and psychological experiments
2017	Feb to Mar	Notification date for the field physiological and psychological experiments
	Feb to Mar	Second screening (selection based on the result of field physiological and psychological experiments)
	The end of Mar	Notification date for authorized location announcement

Natural and Social Condition Criteria
Gratify the Five Senses	Sensible evaluation
	Richness of nature
	No harmful pollutants
	Maintenance and protection of natural environment
Environment and Facility	Management of setting of “Forest Therapy Road”
	Management of facility near forest
	Rest area, experience-based facilitation and disability friendly
	Safety management system and medical institutions
Access and Geographical Condition	Set target visitors or locals reflecting regional condition
	Accessibility for visitors with private car
	Parking lot

Accommodation Condition Criteria
Management	Management system for maintenance
	The promotion system of the administrative organization
	Explicitly stated forest facilities management and appreciate operation
	Local residents corporation system
Forest Therapy Menu	Policy on menu regarding Forest Therapy
	Menu identified specifically when in field
	Menu for covering accommodation
	Menu for covering health and med
Support from Local Residents	Service provider system
	Convenience of one- stop shopping for information
	Placement of Forest Therapy Guide
Future Vision, Sustainability and Expandability	Future plans, short-term (1 to 3 years) and long-term (more than 5 years)
	Sustainability and expand-ability of promotion system
	IPR such as advertisement methods
	Next leaders training as a part of expand-ability plan
Sales Point	Attractiveness of Forest Therapy proposal utilizing the local features

Physiological and Psychological Experimental Experiments Schedule

The experiment will take place for two days on weekdays between July and September when climate is mild. When it rains, schedule will be postponed; hence, please allow for 3 days for experiment.

Experiment Location

For experiment location, please set two locations of the forest and urban environment. For each of the experimental locations (forest and urban), please set the waiting area of the visitors (conference room, mountain cottage etc.).

Experimental contents

Experiments contents are the same for both forest and urban environments. We mainly conduct the experiments shown below (Experiential contents are subject to change)

Physiological Measurement Items

Psychological Measurement Items (Subjective Evaluation)

1.（HRV）Heart rate variability (HRV)  2.Blood pressure, pulse rate By analyzing the fluctuation of the heart rate , the autonomic nervous activity is measured and divided into①Parasympathetic nerve activity (aggravates when relaxed)②Sympathetic nerve activity (aggravates when stressed)③Systolic blood pressure④Diastolic blood pressure⑤Heartrate⑥Pulse rate. Blood pressure and pulse rate increases when stressed.

1.Examination for mood profile (POMS)  2.SD method (evaluate the impression of the forest)  3.Evaluation of the stress level  4.Evaluation of the relaxing level