A Nature-Based Vocational Training Programme for Migrants and Swedes: Impacts on the Five Ways to Wellbeing

Liz O’Brien (), Ann Dolling, Marcus Hedblom and Anna María Pálsdóttir
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Liz O’Brien: Society and Environment Research Group, Forest Research, Farnham GU10 4LH, UK
Ann Dolling: Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 901 83 Umea, Sweden
Marcus Hedblom: Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Anna María Pálsdóttir: Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 234 22 Alnarp, Sweden

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Nature-based interventions are increasingly used to support human wellbeing, and more recently to integrate migrants into host countries. In this research, we focused on a nature-based vocational training programme led by a partnership of three Swedish public organisations. In the programme, long-term unemployed Swedes worked with migrants in various nature conservation and nature management tasks as part of an employment programme. We undertook interviews with nineteen participants and carried out observations ‘in situ’ to explore the impact of the programme on participants’ wellbeing. Using the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ as a conceptual framework, we found that the programme connected participants to nature, helped them take notice of the forests and nature they worked in, and connected participants across cultures. The participants learned new conservation skills and migrants had a chance to improve their Swedish language skills. The activities within the programme were physical and the majority found this was important for their overall wellbeing. Migrants were younger and keener to learn new employable skills than Swedes who were closer to pension age. The groups were more similar when it came to identifying the impact of the programme on their wellbeing. Nature-based vocational training programmes not only allow participants to gain skills for employment but can have a significant impact on wellbeing.

Keywords: health; wellbeing; forests; migrants; immigrants; nature-based integration; nature-based intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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