Britain ranks 55th out of 61 countries in a major global study assessing how closely people feel connected to the natural world.
The research, published in Ambio, surveyed 57,000 people and found that Nepal is the most “nature-connected” nation, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria. At the bottom of the table are the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain.
Led by Professor Miles Richardson of the University of Derby, the study found that societies with higher levels of spirituality or religious faith tend to feel closer to nature. In contrast, nations with high urbanisation, income, internet use, and ease of doing business showed weaker connections.
Despite Britain’s strong environmental movement, membership in green organisations was found to have little effect on personal connection to nature. Richardson said the findings reflected a deeply rational, technology-driven culture.
“Nature connectedness is about how we feel and value our place in the living world,” he said. “We’ve gained much from modern progress, but we must reintegrate nature into our wellbeing and decision-making.”
He suggested using natural environments in public health, introducing “biodiversity net gain” policies, and embedding nature into business decisions.
The bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, added: “What we notice, we love; what we love, we protect. Reconnecting people with nature, especially children, is vital for our future.”
