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An embodied perspective on the co-production of cultural ecosystem services: Toward embodied ecosystems
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala.
Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0179-2540
University of Gävle, Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Environmental engineering. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2637-2024
2018 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, ISSN 0964-0568, E-ISSN 1360-0559, Vol. 61, no 5/6, p. 778-799Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Despite arguments justifying the need to consider how cultural ecosystem services are coproduced by humans and nature, there are currently few approaches for explaining the relationships between humans and ecosystems through embodied scientific realism. This realism recognises that human–environment connections are not solely produced in the mind, but through relations between mind, body, culture and environment through time. Using affordance theory as our guide, we compare and contrast embodied approaches to common understandings of the co-production of cultural ecosystem services across three assumptions: (1) perspective on cognition; (2) the position of socio-cultural processes and (3) typologies used to understand and value human–environment relationships. To support a deeper understanding of co-production, we encourage a shift towards embodied ecosystems for assessing the dynamic relations between mind, body, culture and environment. We discuss some of the advantages and limitations of this approach and conclude with directions for future research. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018. Vol. 61, no 5/6, p. 778-799
Keywords [en]
affordances, worldviews, social-ecological systems, sense of place, relational values, cultural ecosystem services
National Category
Peace and Conflict Studies Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-24139DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2017.1312300ISI: 000430421700003Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85019594035OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-24139DiVA, id: diva2:1107988
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-01193Available from: 2017-06-12 Created: 2017-06-12 Last updated: 2025-02-20Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Home for future Earth lovers: Foundations of nature-connecting habitats for children
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Home for future Earth lovers: Foundations of nature-connecting habitats for children
2018 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Modern childhood is increasingly segregated from nature. Yet, children’s nature experiences are first steps for sustainable futures. In this thesis, I research the foundations of habitats that can connect children to nature. I call them nature-connecting habitats. Five papers in this thesis answer: (RQ1) what is children’s human-nature connection (HNC)?; and (RQ2) what are the requirements of nature-connecting habitats for children? The preschools paper shows that five-year-olds with nature-rich routines have higher HNC than children with nature-poor routines, but it cannot understand which nature experiences are most influential. Hence, the salamanders paper assesses children’s participation in a nature conservation project. Discrepancies between the qualitative and quantitative results reveal an assessment gap with theoretical roots, which impedes the assessment of nature experiences in practical time-frames. To close this gap, the review paper surveys the literature and shows that attributes of the mind, qualities of nature experiences, and attachment to places are all aspects of HNC. The embody paper conceptualizes an embodied approach to HNC to overcome the barriers identified previously, and the toolbox paper operationalises it to develop a toolbox to assess children’s HNC and nature-connecting habitats. Answering RQ1, results show that children’s HNC is a complex set of embodied abilities. Human-nature relationships that could enable, promote, or assist sustainable development are a set of abilities that children can learn. These abilities are relationships between mind, body, culture, and environment, and progress following non-linear dynamics. This thesis identifies 10 of these abilities of HNC and finds that children learn them in three consecutive phases. Phase one – being in nature – includes feeling comfortable in natural spaces, and being curious about nature. Phase two – being with nature – includes reading natural spaces, acting in natural spaces, feeling attached to natural spaces, knowing about nature, and recalling memories with nature. Phase three – being for nature – includes taking care of nature, caring about nature, and being one with nature. Answering RQ2, two requirements of nature-connecting habitats are found: significant nature situations and various nature routines. Nature situations that can connect children to nature are characterised by configurations of 16 qualities – qualities of significant nature situations. These qualities are: entertainment, thought-provocation, awe, surprise, intimacy, mindfulness, self-restoration, creative expression, physical activity, challenge, engagement of senses, child-driven, involvement of mentors, structure/instructions, social/cultural endorsement, and involvement of animals. This set of qualities delineates the kinds of nature situations that nature-connecting habitats have to provide. These qualities should be various and recurring to allow children’s HNC to progress – hence, various nature routines. These lists of abilities and qualities form a toolbox capable of assessing where and how children connect to nature, named ACHUNAS. This thesis sets the stage to develop nature-connecting habitats. Children’s HNC and nature-connecting habitats are not the only intervention to promote sustainable futures, but they might be necessary conditions to meet the ever-shifting target of sustainable civilizations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 2018
Keywords
Human-nature connection, nature-connecting habitat, children, sustainability, human-nature relationship, Ecology, Ekologi
National Category
Other Natural Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-31031 (URN)978-91-7797-157-3 (ISBN)
Note

Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary; At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript.; 2018-12-20T12:36:41.801+01:00

Available from: 2019-11-28 Created: 2019-11-22 Last updated: 2019-11-28Bibliographically approved

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Barthel, Stephan

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