Humanity is gradually drifting away from nature, leading to a long-term drop in direct contact with the environment. This conclusion comes from a Franco-German collaboration involving the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the University of Leipzig, and the Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE—CNRS). Not only is the distance between people and nearby natural areas widening, but many cities are losing green space as well.
Researchers emphasize that regular contact with nature is a key driver of pro-environmental behaviors, a factor that can influence how societies address the global ecological crisis. The findings appear in a study published in Boundaries in Ecology and the Environment.
The team quantified changes in people’s exposure to nature by measuring the average distance from individuals’ homes to the nearest area with low human influence over the last decade.
The analysis showed that people currently live, on average, 9.7 km from a natural area, about 7% farther than in 2000. Europe and East Asia show the greatest distances to natural spaces, with 22 km in Germany and 16 km in France. The lead author, Victor Cazalis, a postdoctoral fellow at iDiv and the University of Leipzig, notes that similar patterns are observed in most other nations around the world.
Cities also have fewer trees
The researchers also found a decline in urban tree cover on a global scale since 2000, with the most pronounced losses in Central Africa and Southeast Asia. This reduction in greenery suggests that urban residents have diminished access to natural spaces, according to the study’s co-author, a researcher at the Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station.
The study notes that the combination of natural area destruction and a surge in urban populations has increased the spatial separation between people and nature, particularly in Asia, Africa, and South America.
In the same project, the authors reviewed published research on a trend in nature experiences, spanning direct encounters such as visits to national parks and indirect experiences found in cultural products like cartoons, video games, and books. They observed a scarcity of studies addressing these trends, with a noticeable bias toward the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Eighteen studies illustrate this shift: fewer visits to nature parks in the US and Japan, declining camping activity in the US, and a drop in the number of flowering plant species observed by Japanese children. Another indicator of disconnection is the shrinking presence of natural elements in novels, songs, children’s albums, and animated films, as nature imagery becomes rarer.
Even as certain patterns regress, other modes of engagement with the natural world persist or even rise. Watching wildlife documentaries or interacting with animals in video games, for example, has grown in popularity in recent years. The researchers point out that these digital interactions have clearly emerged or increased, but they do not seem to generate the same sense of connection as direct, personal contact with nature.
Understanding human-nature interactions is crucial because these experiences shape our relationship with the environment and influence behavior toward ecological protection.
To drive meaningful social change in the 21st century, a strong link with nature is essential. Only then can humanity aspire to live in harmony with the natural world by 2050, a goal articulated by governments within the Global Biodiversity Framework and discussed at recent COP meetings.
Reference work: DOI: 10.1002/fee.2540 (Source: study cited in Boundaries in Ecology and the Environment).
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