PARIS, January 8 — If our time spent in lockdown has made nature’s call even stronger in recent years for many, our living spaces do not reflect this and represent a different reality. There are statistics that reveal Recent research shows that we are living further and further away from green spaces. At the global level, humans live an average of 9.7 km from nature.
Since the advent of Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns, it is not uncommon to hear friends, relatives or colleagues express a desire to live in a house with a garden or near green spaces. Perhaps one or more of your acquaintances has already taken the plunge and moved from the city to the countryside!
However, according to recent French and German studies, the opposite is true. In fact, the spatial distance between our habitat and natural spaces (lakes, forests, parks, mountains, etc.) has increased over the last two decades. Research shows a 7% increase since 2000. In France, the average distance between residential areas and green areas is 16 km. In Germany it is 22 km. Globally, this average distance is estimated at 9.7 km.
According to the authors, this phenomenon can be partially explained by the destruction of natural areas and massive increases in urban populations (particularly in Asia, Africa and South America), and by the reduction of urban forest cover. Decline since 2000 (particularly in Central Africa and Southeast Asia).
These results are particularly important in that a better understanding of human-nature interactions is an important factor in adopting environmentally sound behavior. “Maintaining a strong connection with nature is critical to meeting the ecological challenges and necessary social transformations of the 21st century,” his CNRS researchers who participated in the study emphasized in a statement. .
The study also sheds an interesting light on the relationships humans have with nature outside and near their habitats. indicated by a decrease in certain activities. Researchers who have scoured the scientific literature on the subject cite previous research showing that nature is underrepresented in art and popular culture, whether in novels, songs or cartoons.
Researchers, however, have been able to connect to nature through several compensatory means, such as watching wildlife documentaries, sharing photos of natural areas on social networks, and interacting with wildlife through video games. Note that there may be growing interest. It was several years ago. — ETX Studio
