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Humanity’s connection with nature has declined by more than 60 percent since the early 19th century, according to research published in the journal Earth. Professor Miles Richardson from the University of Derby analyzed 220 years of data, examining urbanization, the loss of wild spaces, and the shrinking role of nature in childhood education.
The study shows that nature-related vocabulary in literature reached its lowest point in 1990, falling by 60.6 percent compared with the 1800s. Although the decline has slightly reversed in recent years, Richardson warns the overall trend remains alarming. He argues that the weakening bond with nature is a root cause of today’s environmental crisis.
Researchers stress that green campaigns improve well-being but fail to stop intergenerational decline. More effective are initiatives directly involving children, such as “forest kindergartens.” Richardson adds that cities may need ten times more greenery to restore nature bonds.
Encouragingly, even modest increases in daily outdoor time – from just a few minutes to 40 minutes – could bring significant benefits. Experts conclude that systemic change in education and urban design over the next 25 years will be crucial to reversing the disconnect between people and the natural world.
