At the 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy, Kristine Koster (BC Parks) and Dr. Tara Tiger Brown (UBC) presented findings from the Silent Trails Pilot Project—an initiative to create therapeutic spaces within Metro Vancouver’s urban parks.

Noise pollution is now recognized by the World Health Organization as a major public health issue, linked to stress, elevated blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. As Koster explained, some researchers call it “the new second-hand smoke.” Silent Trails offer a different path: protecting and enhancing natural soundscapes so people can experience the restorative effects of birdsong, flowing water, and quiet forest atmospheres without leaving the city.

Results from the pilot were encouraging:

• 81% of visitors rated Silent Trails as quieter than other park areas.
• 73% said they noticed more natural sounds.
• 88% were satisfied with their experience, with many citing relaxation, quiet, and solitude as their main reasons for visiting.

As one visitor put it: “When you got to the end of the trail you heard the traffic, which reminds you how nice the silence was.”

Beyond the pilot, the Silent Trails team is working on:

• Trail improvements: better surfaces, seating areas, and interpretive signage.
• Community engagement: hosting silent nature walks and soundscape mapping events.
• Open-source resources: a guidebook and reproducible protocols so others can measure and protect natural soundscapes.
• Scaling the model: working with stakeholders to designate Silent Trails in more urban parks and greenspaces.

A final report has been submitted to Metro Vancouver, and the team looks forward to the next chapter in expanding Silent Trails.

Learn more at silenttrails.ca and read media coverage in The Ubyssey: Silent Trails at ICFT 2025.