Finding Nature

To tackle the environmental crises we need a new relationship with the rest of nature. To do science, and for simple messaging, we often isolate the factors that are important for a new relationship with nature. Yet, in reality these factors form a network and do not work in isolation. Life and relationships are complex. In our latest research, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, we aimed to capture there interrelations by treating nature connectedness experiences as a network using principles adapted from social network analysis. The results showed the approach works well, confirming previous research using other approaches, but suggesting novel insights too.

The details of network analysis and how it was done are in the full paper, but very briefly it involved asking a couple of hundred people to complete a card sorting task about their nature connection experiences, moving network factor cards to show which were present or not. One study looked at the emotions that may or may not be part of nature connection experiences, such as joy, fear or love. The second study considered the activities that may or may not be part of nature connection experiences, such as watching nature or learning about nature.

The Emotion Network

All emotions, especially the positive ones, seemed to have at least some degree of influence on nature connectedness. Let’s look at negative influence first. The most noteworthy (i.e., the biggest and reddest nodes) were boredom, irritation, and disgust. These negative emotions were highly and distinctly absent from peoples’ nature-connection experiences.

The most noteworthy positively influential emotions (i.e., the biggest and greenest nodes) were awe, joy, inspiration, excitement, love, and gratitude. These positive emotions were highly and distinctly present in peoples’ nature-connection experiences. Some of this is known or suggested from previous research using other methods, thereby showing the network approach works well.

The network analysis did though produce some more novel insights. First, eco-anxiety may not be an obstacle to nature connection, see this recent blog for more on this relationship. Second, boredom, which may serve as a barrier to positive experiences, but has surprisingly received little attention. Third, the role of nostalgia and curiosity. Curiosity is a desire to know more, it turns knowledge, which does little on its own to increase nature connection, into an emotion.

Nostalgia is an emotion found across cultures that makes life more meaningful and provides a bridge between the past and present. Like nature connection, nostalgia is a positive emotion and helps us feel part of something beyond the here and now. Many nature connectedness interventions focus on mindfulness and being ‘in the moment’. There is far less work that considers time and looking back. Such ‘beyond the moment’ narratives and traditions—such as those more that feature more prominently in the more harmonious Indigenous relationships with nature—are likely to have a role in negating emotions such as disgust and boredom and generating positive emotions, together with interest, curiosity, and hope from reflecting on the bigger picture. At the very least, the evident role of nostalgia here may give reason to broaden our scope beyond in-the-moment and mindfulness-based interventions to consider narrative and remembering-the-past based interventions (see this recent blog for more).

Further, the network also shows ‘centrality’. The three most positively central emotions were inspiration, love, and excitement. So, when inspiration, love, and excitement are present, many other positively influential emotions are likely to be present, and few negatively influential emotions are likely to be present (see this recent blog for more on love).

Finally, three distinct clusters emerged in the network; drive, contentment and threat. These clusters mapped strongly onto my accounts of how nature helps play a role in affect regulation and well-being. The fact the emotions in nature connectedness experiences clustered in a way that mirrors this model of emotion regulation, suggests a novel point of convergence between nature-connectedness, emotion regulation in nature, and physiological responses to nature, helping, for example, to explain how nature connectedness brings wellbeing.

The Activity Network

The good news here was that the pathways to nature connection came through strongly as being highly and uniquely present in people’s nature connection experiences. So they were confirmed by a completely different method, but the network analysis showed how they may work together. It also confirmed that scientific engagement is not an important pathway, but can be a stepping stone. Our pathways suggestion has always been to make the science emotional or meaningful.

Interestingly, basic engagement with nature was necessary, but not sufficient, it needs to be meaningful. This returns us to a common theme, there’s a need to move beyond access as nature connection is about moments not minutes.

In terms of barriers, discomfort and distraction (e.g. thinking about things to do or listening to music) came through as barriers to nature connection, which tie into irritation and boredom from the first study. The separate roles of stewardship and social engagement were further novel insights that need to be explored further.

So, some key take aways:

• The key role of emotions in the human–nature relationship, but they feature little in policy.
• The need to move beyond access to meaningful and deliberate engagement.
• The importance of inspiration and love.
• The role of nostalgia and ‘beyond the moment’ narratives and traditions.
• Disgust, boredom, and irritation seem to get in the way of nature connectedness.
• The pathways to nature connection were confirmed.

To summarise, the research demonstrated the utility of the situation network approach. Its validity was supported by its ability to corroborate existing research findings, such as the importance of key positive emotions (e.g., awe and joy) and key pathways to nature connectedness (e.g., meaning and beauty). Further, the generativity of the approach, even within a well-established body of literature, was supported by its ability to identify novel findings. That’s useful for further research, but for application, this approach has highlighted the need for policy to recognise interrelationships and move beyond limited notions of access to include active and meaningful engagement with nature, through targeting key emotions such as inspiration from or love for nature and combating irritation and boredom.

Lengieza, M.L., Richardson, M. & Aviste, M (2024). Situation Networks: The emotions and activities that are central to nature-connectedness experiences, Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Nature connectedness, our love of nature, shapes our identity and values and is a decisive construct in influencing people’s values and behaviours and an important ‘leverage point’ for a sustainable future. Similarly, connectedness to Humanity, our sense of connection with others, is associated with behaviours focused on achieving harmony between the individuals within society. An interesting new research study explores how they interact to bring responsible eco and social behaviours.

Although we divide nature into fragments to inspect and understand, it is relationships that make the world go around. Relational worldviews are perhaps the original worldviews, split apart by revolutions of science and consumption, to the point reality is forgotten. Cognitive science shows us that mind, body and the wider environment are one. Connectedness matters.

This recent study measured both nature and social connectedness, plus eco and social values and responsible consumption, of close to 500 adults from the UK and USA. Some complex statistical modelling tested how nature and social connectedness effected values and responsible consumption.

As you might expect, nature connectedness contributed to eco-responsible consumption, and socio-responsible consumption lesser extent. And social connectedness contributed to socio-responsible consumption, and eco-responsible consumption to a lesser extent – but independently of the common factor of connectedness. Again, as you might expect, biospheric values were involved in the link between nature connectedness and eco-responsible consumption, while altruistic values were involved in the link between CH and socio-responsible consumption.

Now for two really interesting findings! First, nature connectedness was a better predictor than connection to humanity of altruistic values that go on to promote socio-responsible behaviours. This suggests that nature connectedness is a more encompassing and profound form of connection that extends to both the natural and social environments. Second, connection to humanity had a negative contribution to biospheric values and thereby eco-responsible consumption.

These results are discussed with reference to in-group and out-group dynamics or us and them. The suggestion being that nature connection involves aligning with an out-group. Whereas, being solely connected to humanity, the in-group, could lead to the othering and rejection of nature. Alternatively, it could be that nature connection is a broad concept that includes humans, as we are of nature. Whereas connection to humans is a narrower concept that does not include nature. Further, there’s also a theory that people emotionally absorbed in human concerns can neglect the more than human world. And more and more people are becoming absorbed in human concerns. I discuss research into the rise of individualism in Reconnection. Cultivation of identities, the increase in personal pronoun use and individualistic phrases leading to whole in-groups of people believing that they deserve special treatment, thereby generating hostility towards those outside the group, leading to yet more preoccupation with human concerns.

In-group, out-group is a foundational component of psychology, so is our need for affiliation with others. Yet, contemporary society seems to foster disconnection, from family structures to technology and high-rise living, within economic and business systems that disconnect consumers and producers. Counterintuitively, the study of social and nature connectedness above suggests a solution lies on focussing on affiliation with nature.

In sum, an exclusive focus on human connections can lead to nature being viewed as an out-group, thereby undermining eco-responsible behaviours. Whereas focussing on nature connectedness can enhance both nature’s and human wellbeing.

Stinus, C., Shankland, R. & Berjot, S. Connectedness to humanity and connectedness to nature as a leverage point for eco and socio-responsible consumption. Curr Psychol 43, 30429–30445 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06621-1

Writing The Blackbird’s Song & Other Wonders of Nature was a special time, and the book was published 24th October, less than a year after I typed the first words. Finished in July this year it is current. A practical guide to connecting with nature, based on years of research and a writing process that generated new ideas. Special though because it reminded me of the need to keep on finding everyday wonders of nature, bombarded, as we are, with other demands on our attention.

I’m writing this blog as I sit beneath an ash tree. The ground becoming more leaf than earth, as a dunnock hops about quietly searching for food just a few feet away from me. It is these simple shared moments that are special, and it sometimes feels like they have to be carved out of a day busy with other things. The Blackbird’s Song is a guide to help others find and enjoy their own moments, to cast off the demands of busy lives and focus on the joy and calm of nature that can be found close to home.

Month by month, The Blackbird’s Song introduces nature connection science and stories that provide the foundations for activities, from simply breathing and noticing to travelling in time. Each month ends with an activity for nature, to give back. The Blackbird’s Song is not a pill to pop, it’s a guide to developing a reciprocal relationship within nature.

My dunnock friend is now perched, its gaze taking in all that surrounds. A great tit and blue tit perch close by momentarily then leave. The dunnock drops down and returns to its search of the golden leaves.

Each month The Blackbird’s Song highlights these everyday birds, ‘angels’ as they are messengers from an extinction many millions of years ago. Although the book provides simplicity for the individual, it touches on the deeper meaning that surround our connections with nature, from deep time and the need for good ancestors to our worldview.

The science of nature connection is a wonder of its own, from hidden, yet vital, microbes that keep us well, to how the soft fascination of a single flower can help manage our moods. There’s science in the power of tapping into the awe and wonder of nature and reflecting upon the moments we enjoy. Different ways of knowing are introduced and how scientific and spiritual mysteries might combine as we seek the essence of nature. All this informs suggestions of how to reconnect with the natural world.

Science gives us a better understanding of our connections with the rest of nature and through art those connections can be understood further still. Understandings that can be discovered and shared through stories, maps and song. The Blackbird’s Song seeks connections with nature through head, heart and hands.

The dunnock has now left, to be found as an angel in March and a hedgerow near you, soon after the blackbird’s return to song. Below are some comments from others that have read The Blackbird’s Song & Other Wonders of Nature.

________

A wonderful “rough guide” to the planet we live on… Read it and pass it on as a gift of love from you to those around you so they can learn to feel comfortable in their own skins and ultimately, be happy. ― Sir Tim Smit, The Eden Project

Inspiring and rooted in research, The Blackbird’s Song will surely transform lives. ― Melissa Harrison, author and nature writer.

A treasury of practical ways to reconnect with nature and feed your soul. ― Mary-Ann Ochota, author and broadcaster.

The Tune into Nature Music Prize is back from hibernation and receiving entries. With a first prize of £500, the prize aims to encourage submissions of original music from young musicians aged 18 to 30 that celebrate the human-nature relationship and showcase the inclusion of sounds of the natural world. Organisers hope the tunes will highlight the need for a new, stronger relationship with nature whilst providing vital support for young creative talent.

You can find out all you need to know about the prize, new partners, opportunities for winners and judges on the new website: https://www.tuneintonaturemusicprize.info/

The winner will have the option of their track being released on NATURE’s profile across major streaming platforms as part of the Sounds Right initiative, benefiting from significant promotion and marketing, and featured on a special playlist to raise funds for nature restoration and protection. Winners may also get the chance of air play on BBC Radio.

Judges for the prize include musicians and artists including Cosmo Sheldrake, Madame Gandhi, Andrew Fearn (Sleaford Mods), Jason Singh, Jinny Lyon, Melissa Harrison and Sam Lee, and BBC presenters Sian Eleri and Elizabeth Alker.

Nature connection dips during teenage years and takes more than a decade to recover. Research also shows that references to nature in contemporary music have decreased consistently since the 1950s. This research provides a basis for the prize. Plus, a close connection with nature is good for personal wellbeing and motivates greater care for the natural world.

From Louis Armstrong to Louis VI, a Tune into Nature play list on Spotify provides inspiration, with lyrics and sounds that celebrate the natural world. The playlist also include previous winners Ceitidh Mac, Girl Next Door  and Caslean.

Finally, the Tune Into Nature Music Prize  is a collaboration, we’re on the look out for organisations who can help amplify the message. If you can help, get in touch.

The latest Living Planet Report paints a stark picture of our planet’s health, revealing that wildlife populations have plummeted by 73% since 1970. This alarming statistic is now visually represented by two darker grey stripes added to the biodiversity stripes, a tool designed to raise awareness and engagement about biodiversity loss. While climate change often dominates headlines, the decline in biodiversity is equally critical, underscoring a failing relationship between humans and nature. This blog delves into the complexities of biodiversity data, the significance of the Living Planet Index, and the urgent need to address both climate change and biodiversity loss to ensure a stable future for generations to come.

The biodiversity stripes have been used widely, from a football kit to adoption by the global Nature Positive campaign that put nature and the stripes at the heart of the world’s biggest environmental conventions, including COP27, COP28, and COP15. This biodiversity stripes themed campaign won the Best Environmental Cause Campaign at the Purpose Awards in June 2023. Such exposure should now be easier with the new stripes released as Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0, thereby allowing others to share and adapt the stripes, with appropriate credit and sharing.

Biodiversity data is massively difficult and complex, and the Living Planet Index is just one approach that focusses on wildlife populations. The global data includes over 30,000 populations of over 5000 species and tells us that the population of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles has seen an average drop of 73% globally since 1970.

The biodiversity stripes though are an awareness and engagement tool to highlight the issue. Climate change has been found to get up to eight times more coverage than biodiversity loss. Yet only by addressing both the warming climate and loss of wildlife do we stand a chance of passing on a stable planet for future generations. This imbalance is odd as many of us claim to love nature and wildlife. And while we may talk about the weather, few of us love the climate. The decline of nature provides a sure sign that our relationship with nature is failing.

It is biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, that supports life. It is fundamental in providing the air we breathe and food we eat. Humans evolved within a vibrant, biodiverse, natural world. It is inherently good and vital for our wellbeing. Yet through a disconnected relationship dominated by use and control of nature we have done great damage to the natural world. A spiralling breakdown as when biodiversity decreases so does our relationship with nature. A failing relationship that the UN recognise as the root cause of the environmental crises.

In addition to the global stripes, there are stripes for several continental areas, such as Latin America, a region where the creative use of the stripes is illustrated with the toucan, showing the 95% decline in Latin American wildlife populations since 1970.

And Africa with 76% decline.

The larger the decline, the darker the grey, so you may wonder why the Europe and Central Asia stripes below are comparatively green? The living planet index starts at 1970 and the decline calculated from a standard maximum level of ‘1’. Therefore, any loss of wildlife before 1970 doesn’t feature, every region starts as a vibrant green, even though some have less nature to lose.

The biomass of wild mammals has declined by 85% since the rise of humans. Tens of thousands of years ago several million humans hundreds of mammals were wiped out in a megafauna extinction. Then, the Industrial Revolution centred in Europe saw the industrial exploitation of nature, together with changing agriculture, this saw the UK becoming one of most nature depleted countries on the planet.

Biomass of mammals

So, to illustrate, using another biodiversity index, the NBI, the mean level of biodiversity across the European nations of UK, Poland, France, Germany and Spain is 0.39, compared to mean in selected Latin American nations of Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela of 0.80. Latin America is around twice as biodiverse as Europe, yet has the greyest stripes based on the decline since 1970. Whereas Europe and Central Asia has stayed relatively green. The pair of stripes below provide a rough visualisation of this. The biodiversity stripes represent decline, rather than levels.

There is an urgent need to protect and restore what remains. But, like climate change, biodiversity loss is a symptom of a failing relationship between people and the rest of nature. Addressing biodiversity loss requires more than just conservation efforts; it demands a fundamental shift in our relationship with nature. ‘Nature connectedness’ captures this relationship and research shows it can be targeted to inspire pro-environmental behaviours and enhance human well-being.  The biodiversity stripes serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to protect and restore our planet’s wildlife. By fostering a deeper connection with the natural world, we can. As we confront the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we must strive to rebuild our bond with nature, ensuring a vibrant and biodiverse world where both people and nature thrive.

Find out more about the human relationship with the rest of nature and how to improve it take a look at Reconnection: Fixing our broken relationship with nature and The Blackbird’s Song & Other Wonders of Nature.