Improving Assessments of Connection to Nature: A Participatory Approach

Gabby Salazar,Thomas H Beery,Martha C Monroe,Catherine Jordan,Nicole M Ardoin

doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.609104

Abstract

Experiences in nature benefit humans in a variety of ways, including increasing health and well-being, reducing stress, inspiring creativity, enhancing learning, and fostering environmental stewardship values. These experiences help define the relationship people have with nature which is often correlated with a person’s level of environmental concern as well as their engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. A more informed understanding of the ways in which interactions with the natural environment can foster connection to nature requires that we are able to measure our perceived relationship to the environment. Dozens of tools measure people’s connection to nature—the strength of those perceived relationships with the natural world. Although the tools have been primarily developed to answer research questions, practitioners are increasingly interested in understanding whether and in what ways their work—in areas including environmental education, urban planning, and park management, for example—influences people’s connection to nature. In 2018, we launched a participatory process involving researchers and practitioners in a review of existing connection to nature assessment tools with the intention of identifying tools that would be useful to practitioners, as well as defining needs in research. This paper chronicles the process’s outcomes, including a discussion of opportunities for future research.

Highlights

Experiences in nature benefit humans in a wide variety of ways
The recognition of these benefits and related questions have led to increased scholarship, as well as debate over definitions. Such discussions have explored topics related to what we value in nature (Chan et al, 2016; Hartel et al, 2020), what constitutes nature when discussing “connection to nature” (Evernden and Evernden, 1992), and how that definition varies across cultures
Prior to the workshop we identified commonly used assessment tools and conducted a survey of North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and Children & Nature Network (C&NN) members to better understand their needs (Monroe et al, n.d.)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Experiences in nature benefit humans in a wide variety of ways. Time spent in nature can enhance health and well-being, reduce stress (Hartig et al, 2014; Kuo, 2015), improve attention, increase happiness (Capaldi et al, 2014), improve educational outcomes (Kuo et al, 2019) and foster environmental stewardship values (Chawla and Derr, 2012; Kellert, 2012). Strong connections to nature are linked to a greater engagement in self-reported pro-environmental behaviors (Whitburn et al, 2019) and may be more important than a background understanding of the issue in driving action (Otto and Pensini, 2017). The recognition of these benefits and related questions have led to increased scholarship, as well as debate over definitions. During the workshop we articulated practitioner needs, identified connection to nature assessment tools that could meet their needs, uncovered gaps and opportunities available for future research, and formed teams to explore ways to improve existing tools and approaches.

Goal 3

DISCUSSION

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT