Barcelona

Spain

The RECETAS Project in Barcelona

In Barcelona, the RECETAS project focuses on adults living in socio-economically disadvantaged urban areas – communities that often face high levels of immigration, unemployment, and population aging, which can increase the risk of social isolation.

Through nature-based activities, participants are invited to connect with others and with their natural surroundings, fostering social inclusion, wellbeing, and community cohesion.

The diverse green and blue spaces of Barcelona were are used by researchers as living laboratories, including:

The restored riverbanks of the Llobregat and Besòs rivers
The Mediterranean coastline
Urban parks integrated into neighbourhoods and forest-adjacent areas
Historical and botanical gardens across the metropolitan area of Barcelona

A clinical study was is being carried out in collaboration with four leading institutions:

Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC)
Fundació Salut i Envelliment, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) – serving as the project coordinator
Health Department (Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya) – serving as the project coordinator

El projecte RECETAS a Barcelona

A Barcelona, el projecte RECETAS se centra en adults de zones urbanes desfavorides, oferint activitats basades en la natura per afavorir la connexió social, el benestar i la cohesió comunitària.

Fitxa del projecte
Resum de polítiques

El proyecto RECETAS en Barcelona

El proyecto se centra en adultos de zonas urbanas desfavorecidas, ofreciendo actividades basadas en la naturaleza para fomentar la conexión social, el bienestar y la cohesión comunitaria.

Ficha del proyecto
Resumen de políticas

What is Nature-Based Social Prescribing?

Nature-Based Social Prescribing (NBSP) connects people with nature and their communities to improve wellbeing. Through activities such as group walks, community gardening, or outdoor social events, participants build relationships, increase physical activity, and strengthen their sense of belonging.

By promoting regular contact with nature, NBSP helps reduce loneliness and social isolation, supporting healthier, more connected communities.

Learn more about Nature-Based Social Prescribing

Immerse yourself in the world of RECETAS

Through the stories of the people who have been part of our groups in Barcelona, the places where they live and the reinvention of urban nature as a space for connection, resilience and well-being.

Find more pictures of our group interventions in RECETAS pilote cities

News & Event in Barcelona

RECETAS at Healing Arts Barcelona 2025

From 20 to 26 October 2025, Healing Arts Barcelona brought together global leaders and practitioners in arts, health, and public policy for a series of events and activities.

Integrating Nature and Social Connection to Alleviate Loneliness: Global Meeting in Barcelona

On 7 October 2025, as part of World Mental Health Day week, the RECETAS team in Barcelona gathered Catalan and international experts.

Global Summit of Science, Nature and Healt

On 9-10 April 2025, an international event co-organized by the Diputació de Barcelona and Forest Therapy Hub,

Conscious Cities Design Festival « Spaces that Move (Us): Fostering Physical, Emotional, & Social Engagement in Public Spaces »

As part of the Conscious Cities Design Festival 2025, ISGlobal hosted a ”Conscious Barcelona event” with six inspiring speaker.

Presentations in Front of Health and Social Departments of Catalonia

RECETAS team in Barcelona presented the encouraging results of the CRONISOL project, in front of key authorities from Catalonia’s health and social departments.

Example of good practices

In Barcelona, 67% of rooftops are flat, and therefore generally accessible. 20% of these present optimal characteristics to get solar advantage. The City Council is promoting actions to activate roofs in existing and new buildings and get the most out of them from a social, environmental and energetic perspective.

« Urban agriculture is promoted as a healthy, social, community-led practice for the city’s residents. It is a window to the countryside that raises awareness of agricultural principles, improves physical and mental health, and builds community. » (www.alimentaciosostenible.barcelona/en/protecting-planet/urban-agriculture)

sport outdorr

« Increasingly the streets, parks and even the beaches of the city are occupied spaces for the realization of physical activity through programs promoted by the Barcelona City Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya and other organizations or from the community. » (www.barcelona.cat/lesportinclou/es/oferta-de-actividad-fisica-en-el-espacio-publico.php)

About the city of Barcelona

Barcelona is located on the mediterranean coast of the Iberic peninsula. It’s the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, and its urban area is extended to more than 300 municipalities within the Province of Barcelona. Known for its modern architecture, Barcelona is one of the biggest cultural, economic, and financial centers in southwestern Europe.

A city with some social and economic problems…

19% of adults ages 18-64, 19% of women and 16% of men experience poor mental health (1)
16% of the metropolitan population experiences some form of relational loneliness (2)
18% of low-income population at risk of social exclusion (3)

… but the geographical location may help to implement nature-based activites.

Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea (East), the Collserola Mountain (West) and rivers (El Llobregat and Besòs), the metropolitan area of Barcelona also presents a wide variety of forested and botanical areas.

3 659 hectares of total green cover (4)
18 m2 of green surface per inhabitant (5)
1 076 hectares of parks and gardens in the urban nucleus (6)
95 km of coastline in province (7)

sources

1) Source (from 2016): Ajuntament de Barcelona
2) Source: IERMB
3) Source: AMB & IERMB
4) Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona
5) Source: Barcelona.cat
6) Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona
7) Source: Barcelona Turisme

City population

1,6 million

Population density

16 000/km²

Average Temperature

15,5°C

Köppen classification

Mediterranean Climate (Csa)

City SDG index

59,1

Subjective well-being ranking

#27 (2020)

Get in touch with the RECETAS team in Barcelona

Are you an organization based in Barcelona and dealing with these topics? Do you want to share your experience ? Are you interested in getting involved in RECETAS activities?
Contact us !