Ireland currently has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in Europe and it has been recognised that urgent action is needed to address this in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. The Government’s Climate Action plan (2019) has set a new target of 8,000 hectares of planted forests per year and 30% of that should be broadleaf woodland. Transformational change is needed to achieve these targets – ‘business as usual' won’t cut it.
As sustainability is at the heart of Wavin’s purpose, we are delighted to play our part in this transformational change. As a member of Guaranteed Irish, we have made a three-year commitment to the planting of the Guaranteed Irish Forest. This commitment is to assist in the establishment of 14 hectares of new, non-commercial native woodlands with free public access.
Guaranteed Irish aligns its values with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) which are the overarching goals that guide us all to a sustainable future. Wavin, like many companies, aligns our business’ sustainability strategy with these same goals. The Guaranteed Irish Forest underlines our commitment to these goals and is a legacy project that we are proud to support and to play our part in its creation.
There are so many positive impacts that we can all benefit from this new woodland.
Carbon: We know the crucial role that trees play in carbon sequestration. The creation of this woodland will assist in this environmental challenge.
Biodiversity: The Guaranteed Irish Forest will be planned, planted and managed to maximise biodiversity which will be monitored and adapted in line with best practices as the forest develops.
Wellbeing & Community: We know the importance of the provision of and access to green space. How it can promote physical activity, have a positive impact on mental well-being and promote social interactions. This Guaranteed Irish Forest will be accessible to the general public and as it grows and develops over time, will feature paths and trails that maximise this public benefit.
Wavin Ireland believes that a commitment to our global purpose ‘Building Healthy, Sustainable Environments’ is achieved through action. Whether that is through product innovation that helps provide engineers with solutions to the challenges the built environment faces as a result of climate change or working alongside an organisation like Guaranteed Irish in looking at the future and the actions we need to take today to ensure a sustainable environment for the next generation.
To see more about the Guaranteed Irish Forest and the role Wavin Ireland will play in its creation click here.
Blog written by Greennews.ie
A Walk in the Forest is a Green Prescription
Irish Eco therapist, Shirley Gleeson
Irish Eco therapist Shirley Gleeson thinks a walk in the park is all we need to soothe the mind.
Gleeson is an advocate of forest therapy, an ancient Japanese notion that aims to use nature as a vehicle for mental nurture. Eco therapists write their patients what Gleeson calls a “green prescription”.
The prescription requires a trip to the forest where patients can bury their stress and return vivacious and carefree until the hectic city and town life demands another visit.
Before she became familiar with forest therapy, Gleeson was a busy mental health social worker trying to cope with the psychological strains that her job was imposing on her.
“I spent 17 years in social work which was always about suffering and trauma and [the] stresses of people’s lives, and I would go to the forest to cope with that,” Gleeson recalls.
The seasoned social worker says she had always wondered why social work tended to neglect the therapeutic impact of nature.
“I was always interested in nature and had worked as a nature guide,” she says. “The people I’d worked with had also told me how going to nature helps them with stress.”
Photo: Nature Health and Well Being Ireland
Shinrinyoku – The Art Of Forest Bathing
When she first heard of a forest therapy group in the US, the Dublin-based social worker packed her bags and went to train with them. “I was the first European guide to go over there and train with them,” she says. “Their practice was based on the Japanese and Korean research.”
Shinrinyoku is the Japanese name of the practice which translates roughly to forest bathing. It blends a walk in the forest with mindfulness. The practice asks participants to listen to the forest’s soothing noises, such as the sounds of birds, and study the patterns of trees and leaves to blueprint Mother Nature’s impossibly calm aura.
Gleeson finished her training course and returned home, determined to form a similar group in Ireland. With the help of fellow forest enthusiasts – research psychologist Donal O’Keeffe and Diarmuid McAree, the Director of the charity Crann and former Chief Forestry Inspector of the Irish Forest Service – she created Nature, Health and Wellbeing Ireland to arrange therapeutic trips to green spaces based on the Shinrinyoku principles.
“I define forest therapy as an eco-wellness, evidence-based practice that enhances people’s connection with nature. We focus on the senses, what we smell, touch, see or taste in nature,” Gleeson explains. “We also get people to spend a little bit of time alone in a safe place so they can really experience the environment.”
Nature As An Antidote To Our Woes
Since the onset of industrialisation Romantics have prescribed nature as an antidote for the woes of Capitalism. In 1984, biologist Edward O. Wilson wrote a book called Biophilia which introduces a scientific hypothesis for the said romantic notion.
The Biophilia Hypothesis, argues that humans are scientifically predisposed to appreciate nature, thus nothing should bring them more joy than spending time among nature. Generations later, scientists are still researching Wilson’s hypothesis, and they’re getting results.
Today, a growing body of research shows that city-dwellers with little or no access to green spaces are more at risk of developing psychological issues than those who live near parks.
Researchers have also found that people who spent as little as 15 minutes walking in nature can have a lower level of cortisol, the stress hormone. Test subjects who spent 45 minutes in the forest every day showed improvements in cognitive performance.
Another research project revealed that spending time in nature reduces stress caused by income and racial disparity.
Some researchers suggest that the scent of evergreen forests is sedative, making us feel instantly better and that birdsongs elate the spirits. They have also said that as many of nature’s patterns are fractal (exhibit a repeating pattern) and the human eye moves in a fractal fashion, this symmetry creates alpha waves in our brains leading to a relaxed state.
Photo: Nature Health and Well Being Ireland
Public Awareness of New Bio-Economy
Gleeson thinks a lack of awareness about alternative therapies could be a reason why people tend to invest so much in anti-depressants. “I think public awareness is not there yet, but it is critical to raise awareness. We call forest therapy an adjunctive treatment to medicine-based mental health treatments that are out there,” she says.
Due to her efforts at linking the medical and green worlds, Ms Gleeson has been invited to speak at a United Nations (UN) event this September. “We are trying to develop green jobs in the forest industry that connects the environmental sector with the health sector.”
As therapeutic as forests may be, the industries that currently rely on trees, such as the energy and construction sectors, do not intend to keep the trees in place.
Deforestation can create ecological imbalances, destroy forest animals’ habitats, and reduce biodiversity in nature. Forests cover 30 per cent of the earth’s surface. It is estimated that a hundred years from now, there won’t be any rainforests left on earth.
Ireland’s latest forestry report points out that forest land cover is at its highest level in over 350 years at 10.5 per cent, yet, this is still well below our EU neighbours who average 33.5 per cent.
Blog written by Greennews.ie
The Benefits of “Snámha Foraoise” (Forest Bathing)
According to a study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of his or her time indoors, and a similar study in Ireland reported the average Irish person spends over 80% of their time indoors. We should be alarmed!
Forest Bathing Refreshes, Energy and Vitality and Rejuvenates
We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort.
They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, and refresh and rejuvenate us. The practice originated in Japan in the late 1980s and is known as “Shinrin-yoku,” which roughly translated means “forest bathing” or if you prefer to use the Irish term for Forest Bathing, “Snámha Foraoise”.
Forest Bathing is Not Exercise!
This is NOT exercise, hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world. Never have we been so far from merging with the natural world and so divorced from nature.
But the good news is that even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health. A two-hour forest bath will help you to unplug from technology and slow down. It will bring you into the present moment and de-stress and relax you. Numerous scientific studies conducted on Forest Bathing have shown that Shinrin-yoku has real health benefits.
Forest bathing doesn’t have anything to do with soaping up, but it can provide relaxation just like your favourite bubble bath does. The practice has quickly been gaining popularity in many European countries and you can even find a Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
What does Forest Bathing Mean?
Forest bathing is taking time to unwind and connect with nature to improve your health. Simply put: Forest bathing is retreating to nature to immerse in the forest atmosphere.
“Trees release natural oils called phytoncides which are also hugely beneficial to the human immune system,” according to Dr Li author of Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness.
“Exposure to phytoncides increases your count of NK cells, which help to prevent diseases and reduces the production of stress hormones in your body.”
Dr Li also discovered that forest bathing can be helpful in the treatment of stress, becoming increasingly prevalent in our modern lives. “Soil contains a microbe called Mycobacterium vaccae, which we inhale when we spend time in the forest.
Most of us think of a sweaty hike when we think of a trip to the woods, racing past the beautiful surroundings. Forest bathing is set at a much slower pace and is focused on fully experiencing the nature around us. It isn’t about covering a set distance, raising your heart rate or even about exercise.
Unlock the Power of the Forest
First, find a spot. Make sure you have left your phone, camera and paraphernalia behind. You are going to be walking aimlessly and slowly. You don’t need any devices. Let your body be your guide. Listen to where it wants to take you. Follow your nose. And take your time. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get anywhere. You are not going anywhere. You are savouring the sounds, smells and sights of nature and letting the forest in.
The aim of forest therapy is to slow down and become immersed in the natural environment. Lying on the ground, meditating, gathering forest edibles and noticing the foliage are some of the different ways you can forest bathe. The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet.
Forest Bathing a Remarkably Undemanding and Inexpensive Activity
When it comes to finding calm and relaxation, there is no one-size-fits-all solution – it differs from person to person. It is important to find a place that suits you. If you love the smell of damp soil, you will be most relaxed where the natural landscape provides it. Then the effects of the forest will be more powerful.
Maybe you have a place in the countryside that reminds you of your childhood or of happy times in the past. These places will be special to you and your connection with them will be strong.
The good news is that forest bathing is a remarkably undemanding and inexpensive activity. It can be done at any time, in any weather condition and doesn’t require camping equipment or the physical endurance of a long hike (unless you want it to). You can enjoy forest bathing at your own pace, in your own style, at forests and parks nationwide.
You can forest-bathe anywhere in the world – wherever there are trees; in hot weather or in cold; in rain, sunshine, or snow. You don’t even need a forest. Once you have learned how to do it, you can do your Snámha Foraoise anywhere – in a nearby park or in your garden. Look for a place where there are trees, and off you go!
At the centre of your being, you have the answer you know who you are and you know what you want.
How Often Should You Forest Bathe?
Most of the studies showed benefits when participants went on forest bathing trips every one to four weeks. The more often you can go, the better. However, positive results were still seen even seven days after a forest bathing trip, and even as long as 30 days later.
Enhance the Experience with Earthing
Since the idea is to connect with the Earth, grounding or barefoot shoes help improve the experience. This also enhances your perception of the surroundings. Depending on the area you’re in and the exact circumstances, you can also kick your shoes off and go barefoot.
Electromagnetic exposure from wireless devices, cell phone towers, and other modern-day technology saturates our environments. Earthing and forest bathing give us a way to reset our natural electromagnetic fields and centre the body. Read more practical ways to reduce your EMF exposure here.
No Forest? No Problem!
If a whole forest isn’t available to you, then even standing underneath a single tree and inhaling deeply will benefit the body to some degree. Lay on a patch of healthy grass. Go to a nature park. There’s even some evidence to suggest that focusing on a picture of a forest may have some health benefits!
Conclusion
The rise of self-prescribed antidotes, from mindfulness to a multitude of yoga variations, is all further proof that people are now more open to and actively seeking ways to improve their health through wellness and natural therapies.
Spending time in nature is proven to help you relax, and in an age where stress is tantamount to an epidemic, this is invaluable. Many people spend workdays indoors under fluorescent lights, in front of computers, then return home to bask in the glow of television screens. Being outside can improve memory, fight stress and lower blood pressure. Imagine a therapy that had no known side effects, was readily available and could improve your cognitive functioning at zero cost. Something tells me your family doctor will soon be prescribing doses of time spent in natural environments and regular Snámha Foraoise!
More Information and original blog is here
https://annerabbitte.ie/9-benefits-of-forest-bathing-why-we-all-need-to-try-it
Written by Dr Michael White, Annerabitte.ie
The Horticultural Society Maribor was founded in 1869 with the aim of planting public green space in the city of Maribor. The parks, avenues, and other green urban areas of the city are the lasting legacy of the then "Maribor Beautification Society", which celebrates its 155th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations of this venerable anniversary, a "pop-up" exhibition was organized to showcase the city's green amenities.
Photo 1: Photo Credit: Horticultural Society of Maribor
The developing city acquired most of its green plantations in the 19th century, when the arrival of the "Southern Railway" began to give it the feel of a European city.
The first tree planted in Maribor's City Park was 151 years ago in the form of an avenue for chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum L). Gradually, in the style of the English parkland, the park was given the framework we know today. Maribor City Park is a popular promenade and meeting point for city dwellers from all generations. The park is home to many trees over 140 years old.
Photo2: Photo credit: maribor city park - Search Images
The Maribor Horticultural Society, in the framework of its participation in the EU Erasmus + project ForestWell, approved by the national agency CMEPIUS, highlights the tree diversity of the city of Maribor and the Podravska region in several ways, namely:
- finding and bringing together partners in the implementation activities of the project
- informing the public about the project activities
- taking initiatives and participating in implementation
We highlight just a few of the joint events: Marking of tree species with eco-labels in the park on Slomškov Square in Maribor, installation of the 'natural tree value' label at the almond tree on Kneza Koclja Street in Maribor; initiative and coordination for tree planting in the Botanical Garden of the University of Maribor, initiative for cooperation with OE Maribor, Forest Institute of the Republic of Slovenia in the planting of trees in the municipality of Slovenska Bistrica; establishment of a weekly column on Maribor trees in the magazine Štajerc, participation in an international conference at the Faculty of Biotechnics, UL, and promotion of the ForestWell project in the framework of a one-month exhibition on the occasion of the 155th Maribor Forest Festival. Public Green Spaces: Public Health, etc., are some of the activities carried out so far.
Photo3: Photo Credit: Tatjana Klakočar
Many planned activities are still ahead of us, all of which aim to promote forest tourism, wellness, and cuisine.
Written by: Borut Ambrožič, President of the Horticultural Society Maribor, Slovenia
From 27 to 31 May 2024, the University of Maribor Botanical Garden hosted the event "Meet me in the Gardens 2024" or "Randez-vouz aux Jardins 2024".
As part of the lletus Meet in the Gardens initiative, interesting activities took place to awaken all senses when learning about plants. The activities took place between 10.00 and 12.00 on Monday and Thursdays, and during the garden opening hours on Fridays.
The organization of the events, which took place from Monday to Thursday in the garden, was made possible by participation in the ForestWell project, which was implemented by VCHT Maribor together with four other partners from Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and Denmark.
On Monday, tourism students took a guided tour of the Botanical Garden.
They learned that the Botanical Garden is located on the site of the central part of a large mound dating back to the Iron Age almost 3000 years ago. This part is now declared an archaeological monument by decree.More than twenty burial mounds have been preserved almost intact in the wooded area just outside the present-day southern boundary of the Botanical Garden. This offers an exceptional opportunity to bring a part of the landscape frozen over during the Iron Age to the wider public.
On Tuesday, the Velnes Year 1 students took a forest bath with Asahi Nordic exercises and, like all the other participants, they walked in the garden where, at the foot of Pohorje, the varied and lush vegetation of the Botanical Garden of the University of Maribor, where you can come to relax, socialize, learn and get to know nature, fascinated them; the area of the former castle park, a few kilometers south of Maribor, is home to many native and non-native species of trees, shrubs, and flowers, which you can learn about on a guided tour.
On Wednesday, catering students held a workshop on forest gastronomy, showing that the Botanic Garden offers more than just hot and cold drinks and snacks from a vending machine.
The Botanical Garden also offers temporary and permanent exhibitions such as hunting, geology, and archaeology during a relaxing stroll. Guided tours are available through prior arrangements, and larger groups can also visit the garden in winter when it is close to the public.
During or after the tour, relax in the rest area with benches and tables, where you can sit in the pleasant shade of trees.
On Thursday, we were again active with guided recreation. We also visited the Balsam fir tree planted in November 2023 as part of the ForestWell Project.
You are invited to a pleasant natural setting on eight hectares near Hoče from early spring to late autumn. The Botanic Garden will attract you as early as April, when the collection of more than 100 species of daffodils blooms; May, when the rhododendrons are in flower; and June, when the variety of colors is at its peak. In summer, the garden invites you to enjoy the pleasant shade of the mighty trees and the blooming roses, and in autumn, to see the various fruits and all the shades of autumn colours.The plantation of native and exotic trees includes sequoias that are more than 120 years old, a 364 cm wide sycamore, Caucasian firs, Canadian firs, Lawson cypresses, red-leaved beech, larches, magnolias and yew trees, among others.
On November 28th, 2023 Vocational College of Hospitality and Tourism Maribor (VSGT) organized ˝Green walk˝ that was held within the activites of the ForestWell Project. With the help of Horticultural society of Maribor two activites were taking part on two different locations, one in Botanical garden in Pivola, near Maribor, and another in the city center. The event was organized for students of Wellness programme, invited guests and media.
On Slomškov square in the city center, tree-friendly nameplates were placed on eight different tree species that grow there. The plates are the same as already existing ones in Maribor's city park and are non-invasive to trees and their growth. Mr Borut Ambrožič from the Horticultural society of Maribor also took the students and guests on a guided tour of all eight species, as well as on a tour of exceptional trees that grow near Maribor's city center. In between, in Botanical garden in Pivola, fifteen trees were planted and a tour around the garden was made. We concluded the day together with watching the film about exceptional trees in Maribor.
Mood of Finland company is the Finnish partner in the FORESTWELL project which aims to produce learning material about the welfare effects of the forest, taking into account regenerative thinking. The third on site meeting took place in December 2023 in Ireland and inspired me to write an article about regenerative tourism and conscious travelers.
For more than three years now, I have learned about the change in thinking and attitude that is behind the regenerative tourism, together with others in international community. In regenerative thinking, the goal is to increase well-being, not only for individuals, but also for communities and nature.
What is the purpose of tourism
The more I learn, the more I want to put things into practice and understand travelers’ experiences and wishes and I want to make the voice of conscious travelers heard. What interests me the most is what people living in travel destinations want and what nature would tell us if it could talk.
I also think about the balance of the economy and the change in values. Tourism is an industry whose goal is to be a financially viable business but is it the only goal anymore and should we rethink how the economic good is distributed.
Tourism has been said to be an opportunity to generate economic well-being and work even where previous livelihoods have lost their potential. Sustainable tourism focused on finding solutions that would preserve tourism as it was used to be understood so that natural resources are sufficient, the problem of climate change is solved and other aspects of sustainability are taken into account.
We cannot, though, regenerate something that has caused the problems, by forcefully holding on to what has not proven to be an activity that increases vitality but find new ways to produce well-being.
The framework of tourism, the infrastructure and the business idea have been built for that tourism, the measures of success of which have been quantitative goals (tourism income, numbers of international tourists and overnight stays). We can’t just ”put out fires” and look for solutions to forcefully maintain the existing and accustomed service structures.
For this need, we can introduce regenerative thinking. Regenerative tourism requires redefining tourism and a change in attitudes. Regenerative tourism offers opportunities to see the possibilities of tourism as even stronger, specially when connecting industry boundaries. You can read some previous articles about regenerative tourism.
Redefining Tourism
Redefining tourism is at the core of regenerative thinking; how are achievements and success measured, what is given up and what will be replaced?
In the name of honesty, it must be stated that tourism in many places was born from the need to primarily please tourists, at any cost. We can’t forcefully stick to tourism as we understand it now, but honestly look at what kind of tourism genuinely produces well-being for individuals, communities and nature.
The most attention should now be paid to the experiences and services that represent or preserve the nature, original atmosphere or traditions of the place. We have to learn to define together with the local people and with an understanding of nature, what is the sense of place and we should share successes and concrete actions.
From words to actions
The biggest need for change arises from raising the awareness of tourists. We should not be too careful to point out the problems of the place, neither should we underestimate the group of travelers who are genuinely conscious and want to make a difference.
I believe that conscious travelers are ready to pay a fair price for services, make compromises, give up the old, interested in to know the challenges and problems of the destination and are willing to participate in regenerating tourism.
We should not ne satisfied with just talking and thinking, but putting the talk into practice and share experiences in transparent way. I hereby share some further reading about very concrete actions:
From Finnish Lapland to Canary Islands
Eduardo Martín is one of the Mood of Finland company´s partners when learning and redesigning tourism in regenerative way. Eduardo, like most of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, is happy to welcome tourists, but hope that tourists also understand the challenges that the constantly growing number of tourists bring to the island.
One growing problem is, in addition to hotel construction, the increase in the need for renewable energy and the areas being reclaimed from nature for solar and hydropower.
Mood of Finland company, representing the FORESTEWELL project in Finland, coordinates Regenerative tourism panel discussion during the largest tourism event in Northern Europe, Travel Fair Helsinki, in January 2024
Travel is possible, but there are limits and each of us can make a difference:
To conclude this article, I invite you to watch the video below of the tree planting event in October 2022, during which the first FORESTWELL tree was planted as a symbol of the cooperation.
Iceland is a country where nature and natural phenomena remind us of both their beauty and their power. So it happened when I arrived in the country in the beginning of June 2024. I traveled from Finland by ship and train to Norway and when I was about to board the plane in Oslo, I received a message from my icelandic colleague of the Forestwell project, Hulda, stating that I would not be able to reach the final destination, a village called Höfn in East Iceland, a six-hour drive from Reykjavik.
The roads were closed due to a very strong storm, rains, possible snowfall and sandstorms.The volcano activated at the end of May in the village of Sundhnúk was also still spewing smoke, but there was no acute danger.
If there was something good about this situation, it was at least the fact that I changed my plan to travel by plane instead of travelling by ship (Smyril Line from Denmark via the Faroe Islands). If I had chosen this route, I probably would have had to travel in a really bad storm and be stranded for several days in the port town of Seyðisfjörður.
One thing leads to another and finally the words have turned into actions. I bought an Inter-rail ticket for two months in May 2022, with no plans in my mind. Then a few months later my company was accepted as a partner in the European network project called Forestwell, managed by VSGT, Vocational College of Hospitality and Tourism in Maribor, Slovenia.
The kick-off meeting was organized in November 2022 in Finland, hosted by my company and when the next meeting was decided to be held at the turn of May-June 2023 in Slovenia, I said out loud that I would travel to the place by train. When you say something out loud, it's already in a way a promise you keep, and so it was now, even though there were also doubting voices.
I started my journey on the 24th of May and arrived back home on the 9th of June. The route from Finland via Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Austria to Slovenia and back from Slovenia via Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden back to Finland was as following:
1st day: Hyvinkää - Turku - Stockholm ( 1st night on board)
2nd day: Stockholm -Copenhagen - Hamburg
3.-4th day: Hamburg- Vienna (2 nights´ stay in Vienna)
5.-10th day: Vienna - Maribor, Slovenia ( Forestwell meeting, 5 nights)
10th day: Maribor- Venice- Milan - Zurich
10. -13th day: Zurich- Interlaken - Grindelwald (hiking in Jungfrau area, 3 nights )
14th day: Interlaken - Basel - Hamburg
15th day: Hamburg- Malmö
16th day: Malmö- Stockholm -Turku
17th day: Turku- Hyvinkää.
The journey was all together about 6100 km long return, including the ferry transfers and domestic transports.
The main destination: Maribor, Slovenia
The actual destination of the trip was Maribor in Slovenia as my company is involved in the Forestwell project financed by Erasmus+ and we had a second meeting with this team. The goal of the project is to produce an online training package for tourism, experience and wellness companies and educational institutions. The content is the utilization of the welfare effects of the forest and, on the other hand, on the other hand, ensuring the welfare of the forest.
The project is managed by the Slovenian VSG educational institution and the other partners are educational institutions and marketing and digitalization companies from Iceland, Ireland and Denmark. Mood of Finland company is the Finnish partner. You can find more information about our project and partners here: Forestwell
We stayed four days in the mountainous area of Kope, where Alex Gesse from Forest Therapy Hub gave us a forest bathing short course. On the way from Maribor to Kope, we visited the wonderful nature site of Rogla.
About 60% of Slovenia's area is forested and it is the third most forested country in the EU after Finland and Sweden. The scenery in Slovenia is amazing! Rugged mountains and a diverse forest with big trees. There were no lakes in our area, but there are plenty of them in the country. I think I will return to Slovenia at some point for a longer hiking trip. There are plenty of hiking trails, for example in the northern part a 600 km long route with reservation cabins along it.
We visited several rural tourism companies and wineries. They were very well and stylishly maintained, the wine was good and the food tasty. In some places, the offer was very meat-oriented, and as a vegetarian I could settle for a slightly more modest meal. This is not a problem for me, but especially vegans should ask in advance if there is suitable food in these places.
Is traveling on land a climate act ?
This was a great trip and I will continue to make business and leisure trips by train. I have been combining work and leisure trips for years, and the last time I flew was in the spring of 2019. Of course, sometimes schedules are limited and you have to use flights, but this was such a good experience that the threshold for flying is even higher now.
I find interesting to measure the greenhouse emissions, leaving no information up to guesswork. If I had flown between Helsinki - Maribor - Helsinki, the emissions would have been from 620 kg (Myclimate) to 930 kg CO2 (Atmosfair) depending on the calculator. The compensation fee would have been 17-22€. According to Finnair's calculator, a round-trip flight from Helsinki to Ljubljana produces around 270 kg of greenhouse emissions and compensation fee is 14€.
I have estimated my journey´s emissions ( CO2 kg) as following:
The total emissions of my journey would be apr. 284 -422 kg CO2.***
* None of the hotels published the emissions so I use the number used as an average 30kg CO2 kg which is quite high
** Unfortunately it is almost impossible to calculate the emissions caused by train. I use here the figures from the carbon independent website, which are probably high for the real emissions of European rail traffic. I think all the trains I used were electrified, but I can't find exact information about the sources of electricity production (renewable / fossil) by country. I don't remember traveling on a diesel train at all and from this I conclude that the actual emissions could be around 120 kg. There is also an other page to visit for those interested in calculating emissions: EcoPassenger
*** I am used to calculating emissions with coefficients that take into account all greenhouse emissions and the number is reported as carbon dioxide equivalent, but the coefficients I found now only took carbon dioxide emissions into account.
It is also worth noting in the figures that on the way back I did not take the most direct route back, but took a detour through Switzerland.
In summary, it can be stated that unbiased and easy-to-use counters are needed to support a truly comparable emissions calculation. Based on the results obtained now, one can get the impression that the consumer can find a calculator with which one can present the results sha/he likes. Perhaps more important is raising awareness and changing attitudes.
Slovenia is very well connected to many European cities, by plain and by train. Others of our group flew to the meeting; one to Venice, a couple to Ljubljana, one to Zagreb, one to Vienna. All those cities are a couple of hours away by car or by train.
I hope this article gave you some useful tips and I hope I managed to attract you to visit beautiful Slovenia and to a journey where really moving from one place to another is an important and beautiful part of the whole.
Anu, Mood of Finland
