Science Shows We’re Losing Our Connection to Nature, But Here Are 5 Things We Can Do About It

For the past 200 years, humans have been drifting further from nature. A new study, published in Earth in July 2025, models this decline and confirms what many of us already feel: our bond with the natural world is breaking.

This disconnect is not just sad, it is harmful. When people feel less connected to nature, they are less likely to protect it, and their mental and physical health takes a hit. Restoring our bond with the natural world is vital, for the planet and for ourselves.

What the Science Shows

The research, led by Professor Miles Richardson, combined historical urbanisation data with cultural indicators to simulate nature connectedness from 1800 to 2020 and project trends forward. It found a long decline in human-nature connection. The use of nature-related words in culture and literature has fallen by about 60 percent since the 1800s. Urbanisation has played a major role, since most people now live in cities and daily contact with wild places has shrunk. The biggest cause is intergenerational: if parents do not pass on a love for nature, children often grow up without it. Technology adds to the “extinction of experience”, as screen time reduces outdoor play and direct contact with nature. The model suggests we are effectively locked in until about 2050. Bold action now will not deliver instant results, but sustained efforts can spark a self-sustaining recovery in the second half of the century.

Source: Modelling Nature Connectedness Within Environmental Systems: Human-Nature Relationships from 1800 to 2020 and Beyond (Earth, MDPI, July 2025).

From Causes to Solutions

If urbanisation, technology and intergenerational loss are driving us apart from nature, then we need to build the opposite: daily access, family traditions, cultural stories, health strategies and long-term commitments that reconnect us.

At BrightVibes we have highlighted initiatives and individuals around the world who are already showing the way. From grassroots clean-ups to urban greening and art on melting ice, these stories prove that solutions exist, and that when people act, change is possible.

Below are five actions the science points to, with BrightVibes examples that make them real.

1. Make Nature Part of Everyday Life

Cities and communities can bring nature closer through tree-lined streets, rooftop gardens, green schoolyards and living walls. BrightVibes explored biophilic design, showing how natural elements in our homes, workplaces and classrooms improve well-being, clarity and creativity. The message is clear: when nature is part of everyday life, we stay connected.

2. Focus on Families and Children

Because disconnection is mainly passed between generations, early childhood engagement is one of the most powerful interventions we have. Family rituals in nature and school programs that involve parents and grandparents can rebuild connection.

A lovely example is Delaney’s little garden. At just six years old, she created “The Little Garden That Grew” at her local library, sparking joy and nature engagement across her community.

3. Create Cultural Narratives That Inspire

We need stories, art and movements that show the value of nature and encourage us to act. In Mumbai, lawyer Afroz Shah helped launch the world’s largest beach clean-up at Versova Beach, removing millions of kilos of trash and seeing Olive Ridley turtles return to nest after 20 years. In Finland, David Popa’s ice art uses natural pigments on Arctic ice to create vast, ephemeral works that dissolve back into the landscape, reminding us of nature’s fragility. And in California, The Biggest Little Farm shows how John and Molly Chester transformed depleted land into a thriving regenerative farm, becoming a cultural touchstone for resilience and ecological harmony.

4. Treat Nature Connection as Public Health

Time in nature reduces stress, boosts immunity and improves mood. BrightVibes reported on forest therapy and the healing power of trees, showing how even short periods among trees benefit both body and mind.

Recognising nature as preventive care could transform public health.

5. Think Long-Term and Stay Committed

Real change takes time. To truly reverse the trend, cities will likely need far more ambitious greening than we see today. A powerful example of patience and scale is the Affric Highlands rewilding project, a 30-year plan to restore one of Europe’s most iconic landscapes. It shows how long-term vision can regenerate ecosystems and reconnect communities to nature.

Why This Matters

If we keep disconnecting from nature, we risk accelerating ecological collapse, biodiversity loss and worsening mental health. The opposite is also true. By restoring connection, we create societies that value and protect the Earth.

The science is clear and hopeful. We may be locked into disconnection until around 2050, but by acting now we lay the foundation for recovery. For ourselves, for future generations and for the living planet we share.