Read More: Disconnect From Nature

Recent studies have found a deep and lasting detachment from nature from the 1950’s onwards particularly across Western societies as our lives became increasingly technologically orientated. Many busy urban residents whose lives revolve around the cities for work, rest and play, often have no time, inclination, or awareness of natural settings in their vicinity or as places that can bestow significant benefits. This "nature-detachment," the feeling of not being part of nature, dominates the collective attitudes and ways of thinking and perceiving nature, particularly in Western societies. Rather than relying on ecosystems, we depend on complex industrialised processes to provide our daily needs. Given people in modern industrial societies spend 90% of their time indoors it is unsurprising that our lives are increasingly devoid of real connections with the natural environment.

There are several other reasons why people feel increasingly disconnected or removed from nature, or lured into a false sense of security about humanity’s future. This includes the media’s general apathy towards the crises we face, educational greenwashing and many ingrained cultural acceptance of the need to control nature. These are investigated in more detail elsewhere.

It must be acknowledged that increasing numbers of people and grass roots organisations are leading innovative projects to protect and enrich biodiversity. Excellent examples include the ambitious “North East Inner City, Liberties and Stoneybatter Greening Strategy” led by Dublin City Council and the wonderfully inclusive ‘We are The Arc’ initiative which encourages individuals to give space back to nature in private gardens.

Further Reading:

A Growing Disconnection From Nature Is Evident in Cultural Products: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691616662473

How Modern Life Became Disconnected from Nature: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_modern_life_became_disconnected_from_nature

Reconnecting With Nature: https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/explore-rewilding/what-is-rewilding/reconnecting-with-nature

North East Inner City, Liberties and Stoneybatter Greening Strategies: https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/parks/strategies-and-policies/greening-strategies/neic-greening-strategy

We are The Ark: https://wearetheark.org/