Human disconnection from nature has been identified as a key driver of biodiversity loss and nature’s decline. Stronger connections between people and nature are therefore needed to promote caring for nature and foster sustainability transformations. To identify opportunities for repairing and strengthening such connections, first we need to understand how and why people connect with nature.
A recent study with Chagga women at Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, shows how relational approaches can improve our current understanding of human-nature connections. Participatory arts-based activities were held with Chagga women during focus group discussions to unpack how they connect with, relate to and value nature.
The study found that Chagga women connect to nature through agricultural practices, culinary traditions, emotional experiences and shared values. The main values expressed by the women were tied to aesthetics, culture, reciprocity and stewardship. These nature connections were embodied through an eclectic range of artworks including song, dance, painting, storytelling, theatrical performance, and poetry.
These findings provide insight into the unique and diverse ways that human-nature connections can manifest and how this influences our values. Arts-based methods can help to build a more holistic understanding of how people connect with and value nature, especially in contexts where this is often expressed through practices not words.
Read the full publication here:
Pearson, J., Massawe, J. J., Mbaruku, A. P., Mramba, E. I., Mwampamba, T. H., & Martín-López, B. (2025). Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods. Ecosystems and People, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2025.2459108
