Reconnecting with nature for sustainability

Area of Science:

• Environmental Social Science
• Human Ecology
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Growing calls for humanity to reconnect with nature lack clear definitions and strategies.
• Existing literature on human-nature connections is fragmented, hindering cohesive action.
• Understanding the multifaceted nature of human-nature bonds is crucial for addressing global challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conceptual framework for understanding human-nature connections.
• To organize existing research and guide future studies on human-nature relationships.
• To explore how reconnecting with nature can address the global environmental crisis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis.
• Development of a conceptual framework categorizing human-nature connections.
• Application of a social-ecological systems perspective and the concept of leverage points.

Main Results:

• Identification of five distinct types of human-nature connections: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, and philosophical.
• These connections are linked to social and environmental problems as causes, consequences, or treatments.
• The framework highlights potential leverage points for interventions aimed at reconnecting people with nature.

Conclusions:

• Reconnecting people with nature offers a potential pathway to mitigate the global environmental crisis.
• A social-ecological systems approach, utilizing leverage points, can guide transformative societal change towards sustainability.
• Further research is needed to operationalize and test interventions based on the identified types of human-nature connections.