Rewilding Health: A Global Nursing Framework for Nature-Based Interventions and Planetary Well-Being
Abstract
Purpose: Rewilding—defined as restoring natural ecosystems and reconnecting humans to nature—offers a scalable, evidence-informed strategy to advance global health goals identified by the World Health Organization and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. This project examines how nurses can operationalize rewilding and nature-based interventions (NBIs) as ethical, clinical, and policy actions supporting universal health coverage, mental health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention, and global well-being.
Background: Growing evidence demonstrates that exposure to nature reduces stress, improves immune function, decreases depression and anxiety, enhances cancer survivorship outcomes, and promotes social connectedness. Aligning with Watson’s Unitary Caring Science and Chinn’s Emancipatory Nursing, rewilding reframes environmental stewardship as an ethical obligation consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics Provisions 9–10. NBIs directly contribute to SDG 3 targets by addressing psychosocial late effects of cancer, cardiovascular disease prevention, mental health promotion, and health equity.
Methods: A synthesis of scoping reviews on forest bathing and NBIs, population-level evidence linking greenspace with health outcomes, and global frameworks from WHO/UN was conducted. Evidence was mapped to nurse-led actions across clinical practice, community health, and policy sectors.
Results: NBIs demonstrate benefits for fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, cognitive functioning, and loneliness among cancer survivors and other populations. Optimal benefit occurs with approximately 120 minutes per week of nature exposure in sessions of 20–60 minutes. Rewilding improves environmental determinants of health while reducing inequities in access to restorative environments.
Implications for Nursing: Nurses—representing 20% of the global health workforce—are positioned to lead rewilding-aligned health promotion through nature prescriptions, community partnerships, green-space advocacy, and curriculum integration. Rewilding supports global progress toward WHO’s triple-billion goals: better well-being, emergency resilience, and universal health coverage.
Conclusion: Rewilding is a nursing ethical imperative with global relevance. Integrating NBIs into care delivery advances SDG 3, strengthens health equity, and positions nurses as planetary health leaders.
Notes
References:
Ahmadi, F., & Ahmadi, N. (2015). Nature as the most important coping strategy among cancer patients. J Relig Health, 54, 1177–1190.
American Cancer Society. (2025). Cancer Facts & Figures 2025.
Bikomeye, J. C., et al. (2022). Greenspace and health outcomes: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 17, e0276517.
Chin, S., et al. (2022). Virtual reality nature experiences in metastatic breast cancer. JMIR Cancer, 8, e38300.
Emami, E., et al. (2018). Nature as positive distractibility in cancer healing. Complement Ther Clin Pract, 32, 70–73.
Lavelle Sachs, A., et al. (2024). Nature-based social prescribing and loneliness. Landscape Urban Plan, 248, 105071.
Timko Olson, E. R., et al. (2023). Nature-based interventions among cancer survivors: A scoping review. IJERPH, 20, 2376.
Vermeesch, A. L., et al. (2024). Shinrin-Yoku global scoping review. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.
Kurth, A. (2020). Planetary health and the role of nursing. Nursing Outlook, 68, 540–542.
Vermeesch, A. L., Ellsworth-Kopkowski, A., Prather, J. G., Passel, C., Rogers, H. H., & Hansen, M. M. (2024). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): A Scoping Review of the Global Research on the Effects of Spending Time in Nature. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 13, 27536130241231258.
Timko Olson, E. R., Olson, A. A., Driscoll, M., & Vermeesch, A. L. (2023). Nature-based interventions and exposure among cancer survivors: a scoping review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 2376
Sigma Membership
Eta Psi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Ethics, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Stress and Coping, Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecological Integrity
Recommended Citation
Vermeesch, Amber Lea; Lane, Mary Rockwood; and Olson, Erica Timko, "Rewilding Health: A Global Nursing Framework for Nature-Based Interventions and Planetary Well-Being" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 156.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/156
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
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All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-18
Rewilding Health: A Global Nursing Framework for Nature-Based Interventions and Planetary Well-Being
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: Rewilding—defined as restoring natural ecosystems and reconnecting humans to nature—offers a scalable, evidence-informed strategy to advance global health goals identified by the World Health Organization and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. This project examines how nurses can operationalize rewilding and nature-based interventions (NBIs) as ethical, clinical, and policy actions supporting universal health coverage, mental health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention, and global well-being.
Background: Growing evidence demonstrates that exposure to nature reduces stress, improves immune function, decreases depression and anxiety, enhances cancer survivorship outcomes, and promotes social connectedness. Aligning with Watson’s Unitary Caring Science and Chinn’s Emancipatory Nursing, rewilding reframes environmental stewardship as an ethical obligation consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics Provisions 9–10. NBIs directly contribute to SDG 3 targets by addressing psychosocial late effects of cancer, cardiovascular disease prevention, mental health promotion, and health equity.
Methods: A synthesis of scoping reviews on forest bathing and NBIs, population-level evidence linking greenspace with health outcomes, and global frameworks from WHO/UN was conducted. Evidence was mapped to nurse-led actions across clinical practice, community health, and policy sectors.
Results: NBIs demonstrate benefits for fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, cognitive functioning, and loneliness among cancer survivors and other populations. Optimal benefit occurs with approximately 120 minutes per week of nature exposure in sessions of 20–60 minutes. Rewilding improves environmental determinants of health while reducing inequities in access to restorative environments.
Implications for Nursing: Nurses—representing 20% of the global health workforce—are positioned to lead rewilding-aligned health promotion through nature prescriptions, community partnerships, green-space advocacy, and curriculum integration. Rewilding supports global progress toward WHO’s triple-billion goals: better well-being, emergency resilience, and universal health coverage.
Conclusion: Rewilding is a nursing ethical imperative with global relevance. Integrating NBIs into care delivery advances SDG 3, strengthens health equity, and positions nurses as planetary health leaders.
Description
Nature-based interventions and rewilding offer evidence-informed strategies for improving global well-being, reducing psychosocial distress, and advancing SDG 3. This presentation highlights how nurses can integrate rewilding into practice, education, and policy to strengthen planetary health, promote equity, and support WHO’s triple-billion global health goals.