Project title: Back2Woods – Rediscovering South Baltic Forests as Places for Mental Healing and Active Recreation
Project number: STHB.03.01-IP.01-0005/25
Project activities implementation period: 15 September 2025 - 14 September 2028
The aim of the project: The project aims to establish the South Baltic Area (SBA) as a cross-border “Destination Forest” brand by positioning forests as therapeutic and recreational destinations. It responds to the need to reduce tourism pressure on coastal areas by unlocking forests’ potential for active recreation, relaxation, and cultural engagement. Through this approach, Back2Woods strengthens sustainable tourism and contributes to long-term social, environmental, and economic resilience in the region.
Expected project results: The project will result in the establishment of the cross-border “Destination Forest” brand in the South Baltic Area, supported by a structured network of designated forest spaces for recreation, mental healing, and cultural engagement. It will deliver a comprehensive branding toolkit, including a brand strategy, business model, and an ecological and social handprint tool, enabling stakeholders to implement and expand the concept. Through five cross-border pilot actions, the project will test and validate forest-based tourism solutions, culminating in a digital interactive map of SBA forest destinations. Policy recommendations, a brand transfer and capitalisation model, and mentoring activities will ensure long-term integration of the “Destination Forest” concept into regional tourism strategies, strengthening sustainable tourism development and cross-sectoral cooperation in the region.
Key project activities: Activities will include mapping and analysing forest-based tourism potential and identifying opportunities to position forests as spaces for active recreation, mental healing, and cultural engagement. Based on this analysis, the partnership will develop a comprehensive branding framework, including strategic guidelines and practical tools to support local and regional stakeholders in integrating forest-based services into sustainable tourism offers.
Five cross-border pilot actions will be implemented in different South Baltic regions to test innovative approaches to forest recreation and therapy. These pilots will assess social, environmental, and economic impacts and contribute to the creation of a digital interactive map of designated forest destinations.
The project will conclude with the evaluation of results and the preparation of policy-oriented recommendations to support the long-term uptake of the “Destination Forest” model.
Positive impact: The project will transform the perception of forests in the South Baltic Area by positioning them as spaces for recreation and therapeutic experiences. Through cross-border cooperation, it will diversify tourism beyond coastal regions, strengthen sustainable regional development, and enhance awareness of the health and well-being benefits of forest environments. In the long term, the “Destination Forest” concept will contribute to social, economic, and environmental sustainability in line with broader sustainable development objectives.
Project lead partner:
Name: Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design
https://www.hs-wismar.de/
Address: Philipp-Müller-Str. 14, 23966 Wismar
Region/Subregion: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country: Germany
Project partners:
Name: NaturBornholm
https://naturbornholm.dk/
Address: Gronningen 30, 3720 Aakirkeby
Region/Subregion: Bornholm
Country: Denmark
Name: INWL – non-profit Limited Institute for Sustainable Economy and Logistics
https://www.inwl.de/
Address: Georg-Büchner-Str. 17, Rostock, 18055
Region/Subregion: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country: Germany
Name: Public Institution Rietavas Tourism and Business Information Centre
https://www.rietavovic.lt
Address: Parko 5, Rietavas, LT-90311
Region/Subregion: Telsiu apskritis
Country: Lithuania
Name: Nationalpark Skjoldungernes Land
https://nationalparkskjoldungernesland.dk/
Address: Ledreborg Allé 2A DK-4320 Lejre
Region/Subregion: Sjælland
Country: Denmark
Name: Warmian - Mazurian Pulmonary Disease Centre in Olsztyn
https://www.wmccp.pl/
Address: ul. Jagiellońska 78, 10-357 Olsztyn
Region/Subregion: Warmińsko-mazurskie
Country: Poland
Name: Spas Association of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
https://www.mv-baederverband.de/
Address: Konrad-Zuse-Str. 2, D-18057 Rostock
Region/Subregion: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country: Germany
Name: Baltic Institute of European and Regional Affairs
https://biser-en.org.pl/
Address: ul. Tetmajera 60, 81-406 Gdynia
Region/Subregion: Pomorskie
Country: Poland
Name: Klaipeda University
https://www.ku.lt/
Address: Herkaus Manto 84, 92294 Klaipeda
Region/Subregion: Klaipedos apskritis
Country: Lithuania
Name: Linnaeus University
https://lnu.se/
Address: Universitetsplatsen 1, 35195 Växjö
Region/Subregion: Kalmar län
Country: Sweden
Name: Media Dizajn
https://mediadizajn.pl/
Address: ul. Bandurskiego 96/23, 71-685 Szczecin
Region/Subregion: Zachodniopomorskie
Country: Poland
Contact persons at Klaipeda University:
Project manager dr. Daumantas Bočkus
daumantas.bockus@ku.lt
Finance manager Jurgita Maračkinaitė
jurgita.marackinaite@ku.lt
Total project budget: 2 549 650,00 EUR
Klaipeda University budget: 236 000,00 EUR
The project is funded by the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021 - 2027 4th call for project proposals
Priority - Attractive South Baltic
Programme Measure: 3.1 Developing sustainable, resilient, and innovative tourism
