Britain ranks 55th out of 61 nations for its connection to nature, according to the first global study of how people relate to the natural world.
Researchers from the University of Derby and Austria surveyed 57,000 people worldwide and found Nepal to be the most “nature-connected” nation, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria. At the bottom of the list were the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain.
The study, published in Ambio, found that societies with higher levels of spirituality or religious faith were more connected to nature, while highly urbanised, wealthier, and business-focused countries were less so.
Professor Miles Richardson, who led the study, said Britain’s low ranking reflected a society that had become “more rational, economic and scientific” at the expense of natural values. “It’s about mainstreaming the value of nature, making it integral to wellbeing so it becomes respected and almost sacred,” he said.
The research also suggested that reconnecting people with nature could improve wellbeing and encourage pro-environmental behaviour. Richardson proposed incorporating natural environments into public health care and ensuring businesses treat nature as a “stakeholder” in decision-making.
Bishop Graham Usher of Norwich added: “What we notice, we begin to love; what we love, we treasure; and what we treasure, we want to protect. It all starts with children.”
