Britain named one of the least ‘nature-connected’ nations in the world

Often when we think of Britain, we envision the rolling green British countryside depicted in paintings and novels. Yet in a study published last month involving 57,000 participants across 61 countries, the UK ranked among the lowest in terms of nature connectedness.

Nepal, Iran, and South Africa ranked amongst the most nature-connected countries in the world

A graph published by The Guardian displayed the findings published in the journal Ambio that the UK is one of the least nature-connected countries amongst those studied – sitting alongside Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands – with Japan and Spain taking the two most severe places. In contrast, Nepal, Iran, and South Africa ranked amongst the most nature-connected countries in the world.

‘Nature connectedness’ is a psychological concept that addresses the overlap between an individual’s perception of nature and their sense of self. The study assessed the nature connectedness of the countries through a range of factors stretching from business environment, technological usage, urban population, left or right political leanings, and personal values such as the importance of friends and one’s trust in their neighbours.

However, amongst the factors, those with the most notable correlation to nature connectedness were “ease of business, urbanisation, and access to biodiversity”, while spirituality tended to also correlate with an even higher level of nature connectedness.

The [British Isles] are amongst the most nature-depleted areas in the world

Sir David Attenborough

It is perhaps unsurprising that the UK is amongst the least nature connected. As stated by Sir David Attenborough in the documentary series Wild Isles, which highlighted the UK’s wildlife, “the islands are amongst the most nature-depleted areas in the world”. Further noted by Nick Gates, the producer of Wild Isles, the UK holds many special and unique habitats worth protecting, such as 85% of the world’s chalk streams and 90% of breeding Manx shearwater birds. However, a 2021 report published by the Natural History Museum found the UK had just 53% of its native wildlife remaining.

This loss of access to biodiversity can be understood as a large factor in the UK’s low ranking, but also in many ways a symptom of the UK’s attention towards ease of business and technological usage, suggesting an urgent need to improve our closeness and overall understanding of the natural world.