Study Warns of Sharp Decline in Human Connection to Nature

Study Warns of Sharp Decline in Human Connection to Nature
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People’s connection to nature has dropped by more than 60% since 1800, closely mirroring the disappearance of nature-related words from literature, The Guardian reported. Research by Professor Miles Richardson of the University of Derby, published in Earth, links this decline to urbanisation, loss of local wildlife, and reduced intergenerational engagement with the natural world.

The study found that parental connection to nature is the strongest predictor of whether children develop a similar bond. However, modelling suggests an “extinction of experience” will persist unless transformative policies are adopted within the next 25 years. Effective measures include early childhood exposure to nature, forest school programs, and large-scale urban greening—potentially making cities up to 10 times greener.

While initiatives like the Wildlife Trusts’ #30DaysWild boost mental health, they are not enough to reverse the trend. The research indicates that increasing daily time in natural spaces from under five minutes to about 40 minutes could significantly improve connection levels.

Interestingly, nature-related words in books have risen in recent years, reducing the long-term decline from 60.6% in 1990 to 52.4% today. Richardson said this could signal growing eco-awareness, but cautioned that sustained societal change is still essential.