Doctor launches global alliance to prescribe nature for health
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Dr. Melissa Lem, a family physician from Vancouver, British Columbia, launched the International Nature Prescribing Alliance at the COP17 biodiversity summit in Armenia.
She founded the alliance to expand access to nature-based treatments for mental and physical wellbeing, building on the success of Canada’s PaRx program. PaRx allows doctors to write prescriptions for time in nature, including free or reduced-cost park passes, and currently has over 22,000 health-care providers participating.
Lem created the alliance after receiving requests from other countries interested in adapting Canada’s program to their own regions. The alliance will maintain an online platform showing existing nature prescription programs worldwide, enabling healthcare professionals to connect and share knowledge. Italy and the United States already have similar programs in place. The launch took place at the COP17 conference, where international leaders are reviewing progress on the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework, a plan to protect at-risk species and habitats.
Lem believes connecting people with nature not only improves individual health, but also encourages environmental stewardship and support for conservation efforts, ultimately viewing nature as essential to health as diet and exercise.
