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Towards a unified understanding of human–nature interactions

Nature Sustainability volume 5, pages 374–383 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Interest in the direct interactions between individual people and nature has grown rapidly. This attention encompasses multiple academic disciplines and practical perspectives. A central challenge thus lies in creating a rich cross-disciplinary understanding of these interactions, rather than one that might become characterized by little conceptual, terminological and methodological unity. Here, to facilitate the former outcome, we bring together concepts and theories about direct human–nature interactions drawn from diverse disciplines within a unified conceptual framework. Using this framework, we discuss the linkages among key concepts and theories, identify important knowledge gaps and suggest directions for future research.

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Fig. 1: Examples of direct sensory interactions with nature.
Fig. 2: A unified conceptual framework for understanding the dynamics of direct human–nature interactions.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to D. T. C. Cox, M. J. Evans, T. Kubo, C. McKinnon and M. J. Miller for comments on the manuscript. M.S. was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (grant no. 20H04375), the Toyota Foundation (grant no. D19-R-0102), the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN, a constituent member of NIHU): Feasibility Project (project no. 14200158) and the UTokyo Global Activity Support Program for Young Researchers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Masashi Soga

  2. Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK

    Kevin J. Gaston

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  1. Masashi Soga
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Both authors conceived the work, drafted and edited the manuscript, and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Masashi Soga.

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Peer review Information Nature Sustainability thanks Melissa Marselle, Kim-Pong Tam and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Soga, M., Gaston, K.J. Towards a unified understanding of human–nature interactions. Nat Sustain 5, 374–383 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00818-z

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