“My place in the grand scheme of things”: perspective from nature and sustainability science

Abstract

A burgeoning and diverse field of study investigates the many aspects of human–nature relationships—what they mean for ecosystems, for human well-being, and for transformations toward sustainability. We explore an emerging concept in human–nature relationship research: perspective from nature, defined as the idea that nature helps people gain perspective on where they fit in the world and what is important (what some people call a “reality check”); in most cases, this involves a shift of attention beyond themselves and their particulars. We analyze responses to open-ended questions in a survey (n = 3204) focused on how residents of Vermont, USA, experienced nature during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identify 481 instances and six aspects of perspective from nature; ouranalysis deepens existing understandings of the concept. We connect perspective from nature to five emerging areas of study in global change research: the multiple values of nature, nature’s mental health benefits, mindfulness, humility, and empathy. Perspective, this work suggests, is a construct that crosses multiple fields of study within human–nature relationships and offers potentially important insight into the role experience with nature may play in transitions toward sustainability.