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Ann Dolling

Ann Dolling
I am currently an external associate at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). I previously worked as a Senior Lecturer and researcher in forest ecology and management at SLU. My research and interdisciplinary work have focused on how human health is affected by spending time in forest environments, and how this knowledge can be applied in various contexts, including nature- and health-based businesses, lifestyle change interventions, and decision-making regarding forest management practices. I have also worked with nature-based integration, aiming to facilitate the integration of newly arrived immigrants into Nordic countries through the use of forests and natural environments. In addition, I have served as Vice-Dean responsible for equal opportunities. In this role, I worked to ensure that all staff and students at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and SLU have knowledge of gender issues, equal treatment, and norm-critical perspectives, and to promote equal rights and opportunities in the workplace, the study environment, and future professional life.

Selected publications

Norberg M, Bohlin E, Dolling A, Krachler B, Elfving J, Gärdemalm M, Lämås K. 2026. Experiences of Nature Through Immersive Virtual Reality Among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(5):615. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050615

O’Brien L, Dolling A, Hedblom M, Pálsdóttir AM. 2025. A Nature-Based Vocational Training Programme for Migrants and Swedes: Impacts on the Five Ways to Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22, 1252. 

Anundi H, Dolling A, Pálsdóttir AM. 2023. Forest Therapy for Women with Gynaecological Cancer—A Feasibility Study to Find New Alternatives in Cancer Rehabilitation. Forests 14: 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020333

Pálsdóttir AM, O´Brien L, Varning Poulsen D, Dolling A. 2021. Exploring a migrant´s sense of belonging through participation in an urban agricultural vocational training program in Sweden. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture 31:11-23.

Pálsdóttir, AM , O’Brien, L,  Dolling, A. 2020. Nature based vocational training for nature conservation and human wellbeing in Skåne, Sweden. In: Forests for Public Health I. Ed. Christos Gallis and Won Sop Shin. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK. pp 212-234.

Dolling, A., Bohlin, E. 2019. Forest Therapy in Sweden In: International Handbook of Forest Therapy. Eds  Dieter Kotte, Qing Li, Won Sop Shin, Andreas Michalsen. Cambride Scholars Publishing UK. pp 310-320.

Gentin, S., Pitkänen, K., Chondromatidoua, A-M., Præstholm, S., Dolling, A., Palsdottir, AM. 2019. Nature-based integration of immigrants in Europe:  A review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 43:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126379

Dolling, A., Nilsson, H., Lundell, Y. 2017. Stress recovery in forest or handicraft environments – An intervention study. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 27:162-172.

Stoltz, J., Lundell, Y., Skärback, E., van den Bosch, M. A., Grahn, P., Nordström, E-M. and Dolling, A. 2016. Planning for restorative forests: describing stress-reducing qualities of forest stands using available forest stand data. European Journal of Forest Research 135: 803-813. DOI: 10.1007/s10342-016-0974-7

Sonntag-Öström, E., Stenlund, T., Nordin, M., Lundell, Y., Ahlgren, C., Fjellman-Wiklund, A., Slunga-Järvholm, L. and Dolling, A. 2015. "Nature's effect on my mind." Patients' qualitative experiences of forest based rehabilitation programme. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 14: 607-614.

Nordström, E-M., Dolling, A., Skärbäck, E., Stoltz, J., Annerstedt van den Bosch, M., Grahn, P., Lundell, Y. 2015. Forests for wood production and human wellbeing – trade-offs in long-term forest management planning. European Journal of Forest Research 134: 755-767.

Sonntag-Öström, E., Nordin, M., Dolling, A., Lundell, Y., Nilsson, L., Slunga Järvholm, L. 2015. Can rehabilitation in boreal forest help recovery from exhaustion disorder? – The randomized clinical trial ForRest. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 30:732-748.

Sonntag-Öström, E., Nordin, M., Lundell, Y., Dolling, A., Wiklund, U., Karlsson, M. Carlberg, B. and Järvholm-Slunga, L. 2014. Restorative effects of visits to urban and forest environments in patients with exhaustion disorder. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 13: 344-354.

Sonntag-Öström, E., Nordin, M., Slunga Järvholm, L., Lundell, Y., Brännström, R. and Dolling, A. 2011. Can the boreal forest be used for rehabilitation and recovery from stress-related exhaustion? - A pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 26: 245-256.

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Contact

Non employee at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management; Department of Forest Ecology and Management, joint staff
E-mail: ann.dolling@slu.se
Postal address:
SLU,
Skogens ekologi och skötsel
901 83 Umeå
Visiting address: Skogsmarksgränd 17, Umeå