The need for nature

All life on Earth is intricately woven together in a vast, interconnected natural web of life, where every living organism plays a role. Humans are not separate from this system—we are a part of Nature. Plants, animals, microorganisms and humans are part of this larger system, relying on each other in countless ways. For example, trees produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which we breathe in, while we release carbon dioxide that plants use to grow. This exchange is a simple yet powerful illustration of how the natural world supports life. The food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe are all part of this interconnected cycle. If one part of the system is disturbed—such as if a species goes extinct or a forest is destroyed—it can ripple through the entire ecosystem, affecting us all.

Humans, despite our advancements in technology and society, are not separate from this system; we are deeply embedded within it. Our daily lives are shaped by the natural world in ways we often overlook. For instance, our agricultural systems rely on soil, water, and pollinators like bees to grow the food we eat. The climate, which is influenced by natural processes, also affects our weather patterns and, ultimately, how we live and our very survival. While we may feel disconnected from nature due to urbanisation or technological reliance, the truth is that we are still dependent on it for our basic needs.

To deny this connection is to ignore an undeniable truth. Just take a moment to think about the air we breathe. We cannot live without it, and the oxygen we rely on comes from plants, algae, and trees. Nature isn’t something that exists “out there” or in some distant corner of the planet; it is all around us, inside us, and a part of who we are. Still in doubt? It’s an extreme example, but try seeing how you would get on if you were just plonked on the The Moon! Understanding and respecting this connection is essential, not just for the health of the planet, but for our own survival as well.

The bond between humans and the natural world for our well-being

Throughout history, thinkers like Einstein, Thoreau and Jung intuitively recognised a profound bond between humans and the natural world—one that transcends culture and education. Their observations inspired theories that continue to shape our understanding of life and our place in it.

One of the most compelling ideas to emerge is the “need for nature” hypothesis: the belief that humans have an innate, perhaps even genetic, need to experience and connect with the natural world. This idea suggests that our psychological well-being—and even our full humanity—depends on these connections.

If we are cut off from nature, can artificial environments alone meet our deep-seated needs for beauty, mystery, emotional richness, and inspiration? Likely not. Environmental scholar Dr. David Orr warns that destroying nature means severing ourselves from the source of sanity itself. He emphasises that preserving nature is essential not only for the planet’s survival but also for our mental and emotional health.

This premise forms a powerful rationale for protecting the natural world. By understanding how nature supports our physical and psychological health, we can shape built environments that nourish rather than numb us. Professor Stephen Kellert noted that much of our search for meaning is grounded in our relationship with the natural world. His views echo those of biologist Edward O. Wilson, who introduced the concept of biophilia—a genetically-rooted “love of life” and an urge to affiliate with other living things.

Wilson argues that this emotional bond to nature evolved over millennia of intimate contact with the natural world – when we live fully in it for hundreds of thousands of years. It shaped our thinking, creativity, morality, and imagination. When we experience the complexity and richness of natural environments—trees, water, wildlife, changing seasons—we awaken essential parts of our human potential.

But what happens when these experiences are absent? According to the biophilia hypothesis, our capacity to develop these traits weakens. Without early and frequent exposure to nature, we risk losing a critical dimension of perception and imagination.

In contrast, a fear or aversion to nature—known as biophobia—can take root. This leads to destructive attitudes and behaviours toward the environment. As David Orr puts it, “We will not save what we do not love; and we cannot love what we do not understand.”

Today, many people live in highly artificial worlds, leading to what some call an “extinction of experience.” Replacing direct contact with nature through screens or simulations cannot replicate the emotional depth, complexity, or meaning that real natural environments offer. Wilson warns that while people may appear “normal” in such environments, something vital is missing—experiences our brains are biologically primed to seek and process.

This growing disconnection comes at a cost. We must ask: what happens to the human spirit when the natural world fades from our lives?

Ultimately, our challenge is cultural. We continue to prioritise economy over ecology, viewing nature as a commodity rather than a core part of who we are. The “need for nature” idea helps bridge that divide. It offers not a romantic idealisation of nature, but a transformative recognition of its true value—psychologically, emotionally, and existentially.

To protect the natural world is to protect the sanity and health of ourselves.

To enjoy being amongst the natural world is to improve our wellbeing.

In being in the natural world we will develop a deeper connection to the natural world and realise not just a need for nature, but a develop love of nature 

When we love something, we will also protect it

Inspired by a piece by Julie Stewart-Pollack, ‘The Need For Nature’, http://www.isdesignet.com/Magazine/Sep’96/NeedNature.html