The current COVID-19 pandemic suggests that its outbreak and its rapid spread is a result from our anthropocentric view of the human-nature relationship.

Besides increasing digitalization and technologisation, the worldwide urbanization is argued to be a main driver of an increasing alienation of humans from nonhuman nature. However, a deep human-nature connection is of high individual and societal relevance. For example, nature experience is essential for our mental and physical well-being. In particular, (re-)connecting humans with nature is argued to be a key leverage point to deal with the growing ecological crisis. There is the pressing need to recognize that human-being, as part of nature, is due too the continuous destruction of nature destroying its own basis for living.

However, which types of human-nature connections can be found in cities? What does it mean to have a deep urban human-nature connection? Is a vibrant human-nature connections in fact a lever for sustainability transformation?

These and further questions are in the focus of the interdisciplinary Leibniz-junior Research Group URBNANCE. From an urban ecology, sociology and environmental philosophy perspective the group is dealing with the theories and concepts of resonance, deep ecology and relational values of ecosystem services.

The junior-research group is funded through the program Leibniz-Best Minds by the Leibniz Association.

You are interested in our topics and activities? We are looking forward to hearing from you (M.Artmann@ioer.de).