The Nature Principle

In his book he speaks of children suffering from what he calls “nature-deficit disorder” and that this disorder is affecting their physical, spiritual and emotional health.

Nature-deficit disorder is not really a medical condition but rather Louv’s way of referring to what he sees as the increasing lack of involvement in nature and nature-based activities by today’s children. Yet, while it is not a condition you will hear much about from practitioners in the medical field, there is a growing body of research and literature to support the idea.

In an effort to help both adults and children combat our nature deficiency and have a better, more sustainable future, Louv has developed a philosophy called, the nature principle.

The nature principle seeks to encourage us to live more in nature rather than just with nature. In his follow-up book, “The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder”, Louv explains this philosophy. He writes: “In an age of rapid environmental, economic and social transformation, the future will belong to the nature-smart – those families, businesses, and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of nature, and who balance the virtual and the real.” This balance between the technological or virtual world and the real world is lacking among today’s children who will become tomorrow’s leaders. A study released this week by non-profit organisation Common Sense Media, found that teenagers spend nine hours a day immersed in technological devices, while those aged eight to 12 years spend an average of six hours a day doing so. No wonder Louv writes that, “the traditional ways that humans have experienced nature are vanishing along with biodiversity.” Our growing removal from nature is not only caused by our over-consumption of media and heavy immersion in all things technological. Many housing projects and residential spaces lack small parks or any type of green space. In fact, more and more urban projects are designed or constructed, with little attention paid to, including green spaces and natural outdoor environments like gardens or ponds.

Reconnecting with nature is essential to the well-being of any human being. And this does not have to entail engaging in extreme outdoor activities like mountain climbing or going on a hiking marathon. In very simple ways we can re-ignite our relationship with nature and begin to live fuller, more meaningful lives.

Planting a kitchen garden at home, bringing the outdoors inside through house plants or glass jars filled with sand and shells from the sea, spending time on weekends in parks or going on nature walks with children are just a few of the many ways to get back to nature.

Conservation of the environment and our natural resources are also an important part of the nature principle. Since the continued destruction of forests and near extinction of many species threaten the very environment that we need to reconnect with, it is important that efforts be made to preserve our natural world.

“Our relationship with nature is not only about preserving land and water, but about preserving and growing the bonds between us,” writes Louv. If we continue to experience little or no connection with nature in our daily lives, then it is likely that we see little value in preserving our natural world. Head scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Peter Kareiva, director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA), puts it well when he says, “If people never experience nature and have negligible understanding of the services that nature provides, it is unlikely people will choose a sustainable future.”