Dr Emily Flies, who leads the Hub’s research theme on Sustainable People in People–Environment Interactions, recently took part in an online seminar, ‘Nature, People and Place: Exploring multiple dimensions of human and nature relationships,’ as part of National Social Sciences Week, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia’s annual national event.
Dr Flies joined five other social scientists exploring different sides of human–nature relationships, from national survey findings and climate emotions to nature-based social prescribing and Indigenous connections to Country.
Dr Flies, a senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania, brought the discussion to the future: what would a more nature-connected Australia look like, and what would it take to get there?
Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024-2030 sets connecting all Australians with nature as its top goal, and research suggests that people who feel more connected are more likely to care for nature. But, as Dr Flies told the webinar, “we don’t really have a great sense of what connecting to nature means in Australia.”
Her work aims to build that evidence and track how nature connection relates to wellbeing and progress towards the national goal.
The research goal shaped a two-day workshop Dr Flies hosted in Hobart last year, joined by more than 60 researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders from Tasmania and around Australia. The group shared research and perspectives, discussed how to measure nature connection and worked together on a vision for the future.
The workshop was part of a wider project with three strands: a national survey, a storytelling project to understand people’s experiences, and an Indigenous-led healthy Country approach.
Dr Flies notes that early survey findings showed a strong link between nature connection and wellbeing. People with the highest connection scores were 4.6 times more likely to report the highest levels of life satisfaction.
The workshop participants imagined “equitable and inclusive access to nature for all communities”. They saw connection becoming part of everyday life, supported by green spaces, nature in schools and planning that makes it easier to reach nature. They also called for First Nations voices and caring for Country practices to lead land management.
Flies outlined practical steps: build nature into laws and policies, fund conservation and education over the long term, track progress, and make research easier to use. Stories, art and other creative approaches can help researchers hear from more people and share what they learn.
The webinar also explored the emotional side of environmental change. Flies said people working to protect nature need ways to sustain their efforts through climate anxiety and ecological grief.
“Nature connection is ultimately about relationships,” she said, “and achieving a nature-connected future is as well.”
