From nature experience to pro-conservation action
How generational amnesia and declining nature-relatedness shape behaviour intentions of adolescents and adults
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10889591 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tanja M Straka (0000-0003-4118-4056, Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, corresponding author), Carolin Glahe (Technische Universität Berlin), U Dietrich (0000-0002-6064-4540, Technische Universität Berlin), Miriam Bui (Technische Universität Berlin), Ingo Kowarik (0000-0002-8251-7163, Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 1165-1184 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AMBIO (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0044-7447 • E-ISSN: 1654-7209 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s13280-025-02135-7 |
| PMID | 40048120 |
| OpenAlex | W4408196972 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 84 |
Addressing the global biodiversity crisis requires conservation engagement across generations. However, generational amnesia and extinction of experience probably threaten this effort, reflecting declines in nature knowledge, experience and engagement among younger generations. We examined urban green area visit frequency, nature-relatedness, identification skills and familiarity with species (plants, birds and butterflies) and pro-conservation behaviour intentions in adolescents (15–17 years, mean = 15.97), young adults (18–29 years, mean = 23.72) and older adults (> 30 years, mean = 40.54) in Germany. With a path analysis, we explored relationships between concepts across all age groups. Although all age groups visited green areas similarly, identification skills, nature-relatedness and intentions declined progressively from older to younger groups. Nature-relatedness predicted intentions and identification skills predicted nature-relatedness across all groups. Our findings support the importance of fostering nature-relatedness and species knowledge through age-sensitive access to urban green areas with opportunities to connect with and learn about nature
Action (physics · Amnesia · Biology · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Extinction (optical mineralogy · Identification (biology · Sociology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Demography · Ecology · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology · Social Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health
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Unconventional programmes to promote experiences with urban nature in Berlin
Distinct motivational pathways to participatory forest conservation across generations in forest-dependent communities
Young adults in eastern Germany know dandelion and sparrows but few farmland species
Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research
Children and Nature
Meta‐analysis of human connection to nature and proenvironmental behavior
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Shifting baseline syndrome
Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines
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Transformation of Experience
The effects of naturalness, gender, and age on how urban green space is perceived and used
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Access to green areas and the frequency of visits – A case study in Helsinki
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The connectedness to nature scale
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Curious children and knowledgeable adults – early childhood student-teachers’ species identification skills and their views on the importance of species knowledge
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No evidence of an extinction of experience or emotional disconnect from nature in urban Singapore
Disconnection from nature
Actively Noticing Nature (Not Just Time in Nature) Helps Promote Nature Connectedness
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Expert preferences on options for biodiversity conservation under climate change
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Influence of interpretation on conservation intentions of whale tourists
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The Nature Relatedness Scale
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 4 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |