RECETAS at the IV Global Summit on Nature-Based Health: Shaping the Future of Urban Well-being

The IV Global Summit on Science, Nature and Health, held April 15–17, 2026, brought together over 1,000 participants from 78 countries to explore the transformative potential of nature-based health.

As a landmark event, the Summit featured leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, including Dr. Jill Litt, coordinator of the RECETAS project, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Senior Researcher at ISGlobal.

RECETAS in the Spotlight: Bridging Research and Real-World Impact

Dr. Litt’s participation highlighted the critical role of RECETAS in advancing nature-based solutions for urban well-being. The project exemplifies how research can directly inform policy and practice, fostering healthier, more nature-connected cities. The Summit underscored a collective shift toward actionable, scalable solutions, with RECETAS at the forefront of this movement.

Alongside Dr. Melissa Lem (co-founder of PaRx Canada), Dr. Litt co-led a session on translating nature prescriptions from theory to practice, focusing on:

• Bridging Research and Practice: Strategies to move from evidence-based research to tangible policies and programs in urban and healthcare settings.
• Overcoming Barriers: Addressing challenges such as funding, policy support, and public engagement, while highlighting successful case studies.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The necessity of uniting research, public health, and urban planning to create sustainable, nature-based health solutions.

A Global Movement Takes Shape

The Summit emphasized the growing institutional recognition of nature-based health, with sessions led by global experts in ecology, psychology, and planetary health. Key themes included:

• Professionalization and Ethics: Exploring standards, ethics, and responsible growth in nature-based interventions.
• Cultural Contexts: Insights from Asia-Pacific leaders on embedding forest therapy into regional development and urban design.
• Planetary Health: Bridging the gap between evidence and action to make planetary health a reality.

Explore more, visit the IV Global Summit page.