Study: Loss of Nature Reflected in Language

A British study finds that the use of words related to nature decreased by 60.6% from 1800 to 1990. The study, published in the journal Earth, examined data on urbanization, wildlife loss, and the frequency of nature-related words in books and other cultural products.

The mathematical model on which the research is based predicts that the connection with nature will continue to decline without political interventions and social reforms. Changes proposed include familiarizing children with the natural environment and greening the urban environment.

Miles Richardson, a professor at the University of Derby, stated that contact with nature is vital for mental health and a major cause of the environmental crisis. The study suggests that green spaces in cities would need to increase tenfold to reverse the trend.

An effective approach would be direct contact of children with nature from a young age, through parental initiatives and kindergartens in the natural environment.