Connectedness as a Core Conservation Concern: An Interdisciplinary Review of Theory and a Call for Practice

By M. Zylstra, A. Knight, Karen J. Esler, L. le Grange. Springer Science Reviews, 2014

363 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Calls for society to ‘reconnect with nature’ are commonplace in the scientific literature and popular environmental discourse. However, the expression is often used haphazardly without the clarity of the process involved, the practical outcomes desired, and/or the relevance to conservation. This interdisciplinary review finds that the Western disconnect from nature is central to the convergent social-ecological crises and is primarily a problem in consciousness. Connectedness with nature (CWN) is therefore defined as a stable state of consciousness comprising symbiotic cognitive, affective, and experiential traits that reflect, through consistent attitudes and behaviors, a sustained awareness of the interrelatedness between one’s self and the rest of nature. CWN sits on a continuum comprising information about nature and experience in nature but is differentiated as a more holistic process for realizing transformative outcomes that serve oneself and their community. Various instruments are available to measure the CWN construct, although their cross-cultural transferability is unclear. Multiple benefits of CWN linked to physical and psychological well-being have been identified and CWN is distinct in that it supports happiness and more purposeful, fulfilling, and meaningful lives. CWN has been found as a reliable predictor and motivation for environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). CWN may benefit conservation discourse by providing: a more compelling language; hope and buffering frustration in the face of environmental crises; a more enduring motivation for ERB; and an accepted avenue for tackling ‘fuzzy’ concepts often avoided in conservation. Bolstered by interdisciplinary collaborations and action-oriented education, CWN presents itself as a radical but necessary prerequisite for realizing desired conservation and environmental behavior outcomes.

Subfields: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/42b4ba190dff4bdedb2c8fa57416922eb25c32ec

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Citations in the corpus

Age and connection to nature: when is engagement critical? (2019, background): ““Connection to nature” is a multidimensional construct – comprising emotional, cognitive, and behavioral traits – that describes an individual’s relationship with nature, and is often centered on particular locations or landscapes (Zylstra et al. 2014; Ives et al. 2017).”
Employee workplace spirituality and pro-environmental behavior in the hotel industry (2018, background): “This study responds to the call of Zylstra et al. (2014) for the promotion of the connectedness with nature in theory and practice as a precursor for PEB and to the call of Beery, J€onsson, and Elmberg (2015) for more empirical studies demonstrating human–environment connectedness and the…”
The Way Forward in Mindfulness and Sustainability: a Critical Review and Research Agenda (2020, background): “…psychology and is defined as ‘a stable state of consciousness comprising symbiotic cognitive, affective, and experiential traits that reflect, through consistent attitudes and behaviours, a sustained awareness of the interrelatedness between one’s self and the rest of nature’ (Zylstra et al. 2014).”
Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours (2020, background): “Nature contact refers to any human interaction with a biophysical system, including flora, fauna, and geological landforms (Zylstra et al., 2014; Hartig et al., 2014).”