Abstract
ABSTRACT Relational values reflect the qualities of the relationships between humans and nature, such as care, social bonding, place attachment and spiritual meanings. In this perspective article, we argue that understanding relational values is vital for nature conservation, and we identify how incorporation of these values may function as leverage points for achieving more effective nature policy. We discuss the distinctive features of the concept of relational values and elaborate how relational values strongly influence people’s perceptions of, engagement with and action for nature. Relational values can also provide important deep leverage points for policy interventions aiming to support citizen’s contribution to nature conservation, to strengthen biodiversity policy and the relationship between people and nature. Based on three realms of leverage (re-think, re-structure and re-connect), we distinguish six routes through which relational values can be integrated in policies and practices of nature conservation: (1) incorporation of pluralized meanings of nature; (2) the uptake of relational language in policy discourse; (3) a prioritization of landscape-based policy; (4) empowering citizens in nature conservation; (5) re-orienting nature education to stimulate people’s personal bond with nature; and (6) using digital technology to stimulate new relationships with nature.
Highlights
In the search for effective leverage points towards sus tainability, relational values of nature appear to hold significant potential
The main objective of this article is twofold: (1) to illustrate the importance of relational values for European nature policy and (2) to identify routes through which incor poration of these values can function as deep leverage points for strengthening policies and practices of nature conservation
In the fifth Section, we argue the importance of recog nising relational values in policy, including how rela tional values have transformative potential in terms of environmental citizenship
Summary
In the search for effective leverage points towards sus tainability, relational values of nature appear to hold significant potential. The concept of relational values has gained a prominent place in contemporary debates about nat ure conservation. This has been greatly enhanced by the desire of the International Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IBPES) to move beyond the valua tion of nature as either a resource for human use or as something which should be protected for its own sake (Chan et al 2018). The main objective of this article is twofold: (1) to illustrate the importance of relational values for European nature policy and (2) to identify routes through which incor poration of these values can function as deep leverage points for strengthening policies and practices of nature conservation. Section seven concludes with a reflection on the importance of incorporating rela tional values on a European scale
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