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.
Immerse yourself in the world of RECETAS
Through the stories of the people who have been part of our groups, the places where they live and the reinvention of urban nature as a space for connection, resilience and well-being.
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)
« 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.
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)
A city with some social and economic problems…
%
of adults ages 18-64, 19% of women and 16% of men experience poor mental health (1)
%
of the metropolitan population experiences some form of relational loneliness (2)
%
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.
hectares of total green cover (4)
of green surface per inhabitant (5)
hectares of parks and gardens in the urban nucleus (6)
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
Our team in Barcelona
Jill Litt
Project Coordinator
jill.litt@isglobal.org
Anna Oje
Project Manager
anna.oje@isglobal.org
Laura Hidalgo
Project assistant
laura.hidalgo@isglobal.org
Celia Santos Tapia
Outreach and Citizen Participation Technician
celia.santos@isglobal.org
Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
Laura Coll Planas
Responsible of the randomized trial in Barcelona, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Community Health, Researcher on ageing with a special focus on loneliness
laura.coll@uvic.cat
Irene Cervera Buisán
Psychologist – Researcher & PhD in Education and Society
irene.cervera@uvic.cat
Andrea Fuente
Physiotherapist – Researcher & PhD Student
andrea.fuente@uvic.cat
Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
Laura Coll Planas
Responsible of the randomized trial in Barcelona, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Community Health, Researcher on ageing with a special focus on loneliness
laura.coll@uvic.cat
Irene Cervera Buisán
Psychologist – Researcher & PhD in Education and Society
irene.cervera@uvic.cat
Joan Colom Farran
Director & Manager
joan.colom@gencat.cat
Cristina Casajuana Kögel
Coordinator & Implementation
cristina.casajuana@gencat.cat
Lidia Segura García
Expert & Adviser
lidia.segura@gencat.cat
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 !
