Reconnecting with nature for sustainability

Ives, Christopher D.; Abson, David J.; Wehrden, Henrik von; Dorninger, Christian; Klaniecki, Kathleen; Fischer, Joern

Abstract

Calls for humanity to ‘reconnect to nature’ have grown increasingly louder from both scholars and civil society. Yet, there is relatively little coherence about what reconnecting to nature means, why it should happen and how it can be achieved. We present a conceptual framework to organise existing literature and direct future research on human–nature connections. Five types of connections to nature are identified: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, and philosophical. These various types have been presented as causes, consequences, or treatments of social and environmental problems. From this conceptual base, we discuss how reconnecting people with nature can function as a treatment for the global environmental crisis. Adopting a social–ecological systems perspective, we draw upon the emerging concept of ‘leverage points’—places in complex systems to intervene to generate change—and explore examples of how actions to reconnect people with nature can help transform society towards sustainability.

Citation

Ives, C. D., Abson, D. J., Wehrden, H. V., Dorninger, C., Klaniecki, K., & Fischer, J. (2018). Reconnecting with nature for sustainability. Sustainability Science, 13(5), 1389-1397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0542-9

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 16, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 16, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 28, 2018
• Journal: Sustainabillity Science
• Print ISSN: 1862-4065
• Electronic ISSN: 1862-4057
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1389-1397
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0542-9
• Keywords: Human-nature relationship; Social-ecological systems; Sustainability; Transformation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/917302
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-018-0542-9
• Contract Date: Feb 16, 2018