Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most | Environment

Britain is one of the “least connected to nature” countries in the world, according to the first global study into how people engage with the natural world.

In the research conducted with 57,000 people examining how attitudes towards nature are shaped by social, economic, geographical and cultural factors, England ranks 55th among 61 countries.

According to the research published in the magazine, Nepal is the country most connected to nature, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria. environment. Croatia and Bulgaria are the only European countries in the top 10, followed by France in 19th place.

Of the 61 countries surveyed, the Netherlands has the least connection to nature, with English-speaking Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain lagging behind Britain.

Connectedness to nature is a psychological concept that measures the closeness of an individual’s relationship with other species. Research has found that people with higher levels of nature connection have better well-being and are better off. more likely to take action inside environmentally friendly roads. Low levels of connectedness to nature identified as one of three main underlying causes Eliminating inequality as well as biodiversity loss and prioritizing individual, material gains.

Researchers from Britain and Austria, led by Miles Richardson, Professor of nature connectivity at the University of Derbyfound that the strongest indicator of a close relationship with nature in a society is high levels of “spirituality.” More religious societies and cultures, where faith was preferred over science, showed high levels of nature connection.

In contrast, the study also found that “ease of doing business” (the World Bank measure of a country’s business-friendly character) was associated with fewer nature connections.

Although Britain is believed to have one of the highest memberships of environmental organizations in the world, this seemingly pro-nature indicator appeared to have little impact on proximity to nature.

More concrete factors the study found to be linked to a lack of connection to nature include levels of urbanization, average income and internet use.

Admitting that he was not surprised that Britain ranked so low in the nature connection rankings, Richardson said: “Connectedness to nature is not just about what we do, but also how we feel, think and value our place in the world of the living.”

“We have become a more rational, economic and scientific society. This has of course brought some fantastic benefits, but this is how we balance these with unforeseen problems,” he said. “How can we reintegrate natural thinking into our highly technological world? Changing cultures is of course very difficult, but it is about bringing the value of nature into the mainstream, making it an integral part of our well-being, so that it becomes revered and almost sacred.”

According to Richardson, ways to strengthen the nature connection include making better use of natural environments in NHS mental and public health treatments; Advancing the rights of nature in law and bringing nature into boardrooms and business decisions through regulations such as biodiversity net gain.

He admitted that the research revealed a tension between business and the environment. “We still need a functioning economy,” he said. “There are ways to rethink the way we do business; bringing nature into decision-making, bringing nature into the boardroom, and making biodiversity a net gain. They can begin to change the system in which nature is treated as a stakeholder, not just a resource.”

While bringing nature to urban areas could reinvigorate the nature connection in urban communities, Richardson added: “It’s not just about building a park. How do you create sacred urban nature? It’s easy to build a park, but it needs to go deeper than that.”

The relationship between nature connection and “spirituality” in countries was explored using measurements of the importance of religion, belief in god, and beliefs in different countries. World Values ​​Survey.

Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and head of environmental affairs for the Church of England, said: “We have long known that getting out in nature is good for body, mind and soul. In the Gospels we see Jesus going out to be with God, to be alone in nature; he notices the birds in the air and the lilies in the field. I believe we start to love what we notice, we value what we love and want to protect what we value. It all starts with children. That’s why activities like forest school and wild church are important for people and nature.”