There is growing evidence that nature can support mental health. But when it comes to exactly what works, for whom, and under which circumstances, the research is still heterogeneous and spread across different disciplines and types of interventions. A new Danish knowledge center wants to create a clearer picture.

In 2026, the 15. Juni Fonden established Arboria – Center for Nature-Based Mental Health, with the ambition of strengthening knowledge about nature-based interventions for people experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.

One of Arboria’s first needs was therefore to get an overview of the existing evidence. Together with Silvi, Arboria has created an evidence library with three themes, each looking at the field from a different perspective.

How effective are nature-based interventions?

We started by creating an umbrella review, bringing together findings from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. This gives Arboria a bird’s-eye view of the field: instead of looking at individual studies one by one, they can see where the overall evidence points, how consistent it is, and where important gaps remain.

What makes nature-based interventions work?

We then looked at mechanisms and moderators. Here, the question is not only whether nature-based interventions work, but what may be driving the effect, who appears to benefit most, and under which circumstances. This helps Arboria move closer to understanding what the active ingredients might be.

What do stress, anxiety and depression cost society?

Finally, we created a theme focusing on the human and socioeconomic burden of stress, anxiety and depression. Understanding the scale and cost of the problem provides important context when considering the potential value of new and complementary approaches to mental health.

An evidence overview, delivered by the team behind Silvi

Arboria partnered with the team behind Silvi, who used the platform to bring the research together into a structured evidence library

Together, the three themes provides Arboria with an overview of what is already known and where the evidence is still limited. This can help the center both communicate the current state of knowledge and identify where new research could make the greatest difference.

"As a knowledge center, we need to be able to provide a clear and evidence-based overview of the field. Understanding both what we know and where the gaps are is essential if we want to help move the field forward.” - Kenneth Kristensen, Director, Arboria

For Silvi, Arboria shows how an evidence library can help a knowledge center turn a complex and fragmented research landscape into a structured overview — and use that overview to help set the direction for future research.