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A key factor influencing people’s interaction with the outdoors is their level of ecological knowledge, or ecoliteracy. This is a knowledge base built on experience and interaction with the natural environment, as well as local stories and narratives. Ecoliteracy levels in communities in India, Indonesia and across the UK were quantified and compared.
Findings showed a clear link between level of knowledge and frequency of interaction with the local environment. Childhood experience, area of residence and knowledge source (e.g. parents and relatives, schooling, media sources) all significantly affected peoples’ knowledge levels. |
Despite the importance of this knowledge in creating a bond with nature and encouraging outdoor activities, this knowledge is now in decline across the world corresponding with economic development, particularly in the UK amongst younger generations in urban and semi urban areas. These generations are no longer acquiring the knowledge of their parents and grandparents, and that knowledge is now being lost with each generation. This was reflected in young peoples’ ability to identify rare but iconic species (such as badgers and hedgehogs) over and above common plant and bird species.
It seems that formal education and television documentaries are indeed no replacement for direct interaction with nature and word-of-mouth knowledge transfer encountered when spending time outdoors with friends and family. Thus the ecoliteracy of future generations depends on children getting out and experiencing nature now rather than later.
Publications
Pilgrim, S., et al. (2008) Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries. Env Sci Tech 42(4): 1004-1009
Pretty, J., et al (2008) How do nature and culture intersect? Plenary paper for Conference “Sustaining Cultural and Biological Diversity In a Rapidly Changing World: Lessons for Global Policy”, New York, 2-5 April, 2008
Pilgrim, S., et al. (2007) A cross-regional assessment of the factors affecting ecoliteracy: Implications for policy and practice. Ecol Appl 17(6): 1742-1751
Cullen, L., et al. (2007) The links between local ecological knowledge and wealth in indigenous communities. Int J of Social Sci 2(1): 289-299
Pilgrim, S., et al. (2007) Hidden harvest or hidden revenue? Indian J Traditional Knowledge 6(1): 150-159
Pretty, J. & Pilgrim, S. How do nature and culture intersect?
Resurgence
