Global Nature Prescription Alliance Launches
A new international hub helps doctors offer nature-based health interventions to patients worldwide.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Alternative Medicine
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Should doctors in your area formally prescribe time in nature as part of healthcare treatment?
Dr. Melissa Lem has launched the International Nature Prescribing Alliance at the COP17 biodiversity summit in Armenia to share global expertise in nature-based health programs. The initiative aims to connect health-care providers internationally to expand access to nature prescriptions, which encourage patients to spend more time outdoors.
Why it matters
Nature prescriptions encourage patients to improve physical and mental health through time spent outdoors, with programs already established in countries including Canada, the United States, and Italy. The new alliance responds to international demand for tailored guidance on implementing these programs locally.
The PaRx program, which involves over 22,000 health-care providers in Canada, serves as the foundation for the new international initiative. It is supported by the finding that spending at least two hours in nature each week provides documented physical and mental health benefits.
The players
Dr. Melissa Lem
A Vancouver family physician and the founder of the International Nature Prescribing Alliance.
Canadian Medical Association
The national professional association representing Canadian physicians that endorses the PaRx nature prescription program.
The details
The alliance functions as an online hub that provides clinicians with an interactive map of existing nature prescription initiatives worldwide. Health-care providers use these programs to issue formal prescriptions for park passes and other nature-related opportunities. By facilitating expert sharing, the alliance helps regions adapt established methods—such as Canada's PaRx model—to their specific local ecosystems and public health needs.
Timeline
The International Nature Prescribing Alliance launched during the week of October 23, 2026.
The Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework was established in 2022.
Global targets to protect 30 percent of land and water are set for 2030.
Health Landscape
The launch of the alliance marks a shift toward integrating environmental conservation into clinical preventive medicine. This development follows the 2022 Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework and supports global efforts to protect 30 percent of the world's land and water by 2030.
If you are interested in how time outdoors might support your well-being, consider asking your primary care physician if there are local nature prescription resources available. Research suggests that targeting at least two hours per week in nature may offer measurable benefits for your physical and mental health.
The takeaway
Nature prescriptions are increasingly being used as a clinical tool to leverage the health benefits of the outdoors. You can track your weekly time in green spaces and discuss with your doctor whether a formal nature-based activity plan could be a beneficial addition to your health routine.
Further reading
Learn more about emerging wellness practices in our Alternative Medicine section.
Live Poll
Should doctors in your area formally prescribe time in nature as part of healthcare treatment?
