The Human-Nature Connection: Measuring Ecoliteracy and Environmental Attitudes
Document Type
Presentation
Date of Original Version
3-27-2026
Abstract
In our increasingly urbanized, modernized, technology-dependent world, societies are rapidly losing a connection to the earth. This is seen not only in the direct loss of pristine habitats due to fragmentation and urban development, but also in the very loss of words, meanings, and significance that the land holds to people. The loss of ecological literacy is at the core of the human-nature disconnection. Ecological literacy, also referred to as ecoliteracy, is defined as “the ways in which humans understand their interconnectedness to biotic and abiotic communities” (Ortoleva, 2013) and refers to one’s understanding of, or ability to understand, the natural systems and processes that make life on earth possible. This paper provides an exploratory analysis of how researchers seek to conceptualize and measure individuals' connection to nature as a potential driver of pro-environmental behavior.
Recommended Citation
Wingard, Yvonne, "The Human-Nature Connection: Measuring Ecoliteracy and Environmental Attitudes" (2026). Oral Presentations. Paper 18.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/gradcon2026-presentations/18