The Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources of Puerto Princesa headed by City ENR Officer, Atty. Carlo B. Gomez spearheaded various nature based activities such as forest bathing, tree hugging, river walking and other activities during the 11th International Day of the Forest on March 22, 2023.

City ENRO employees experienced a close encounter with nature during the early morning hours on Wednesday as they introduced an innovative way of celebrating the event. The activity was held in Healing Forest inside the Palawan, Flora, Fauna, and Watershed Reserve (PFFWR) located in Barangay Irawan, this City

Other activities during the occasion include the tree identification facilitated by Senior Environmental Management Specialist Zorina C. Arellano, Forester Romina Magtanong and Forester Sheryl Ampas-Paed.

Many countries and cultures across the world have long recognized the importance of the natural world to human health.

In an article published in National Geographic website, forest bathing which started in Japan during 1980s is considered as a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku whiuch means “forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”. The purpose Iis to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the forests Since then, it was embraced as a form of ecotheraphy During the 1990s, researches started studying the physiological benefits of forest bathing, providing the science to support what we innately know: time spent immersed in nature is good for us.

Tree hugging on the other hand aims to raise awareness about the importance of nurturing forest and the benefits of tree hugging to a person’s well-being. Study shows that hugging a tree increases levels of hormones that is responsible for the calmness and emotional aspect of a person.

The Office of the City ENRO said that the annual celebration of the International Day of the Forest is pursuant to United Nations General Assembly proclamation.

“The annual celebration of the International Day of Forests was under the proclamation of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declaring every 21st day of March as the “International Day of Forests “, in 2012. With its theme “Forest and Health”, this year’s celebration emphasizes the importance of our natural forests not just as an ecological habitat for the fauna species found in our environment, but more so, in safeguarding the welfare of mankind. Today’s celebration highlights the relevance of reconnecting with nature, our green refuge to improve our health and well-being,” the City ENRO said.

The UN, more than 1.6 billion people are directly dependent on forests for food, medicines, shelter, energy, income, etc.

“This year’s theme: Forest and Health’ reminds us that forests contribute a lot to an individual’s health ranging from purifying the water, cleaning the air, capturing carbon to fight climate change, providing food and life-saving medicines, and improving the well-being,” the City ENRO said.