Researcher found that people are becoming more alienated from nature in what has been called the “extinction of experience”. In around past 20 years, people are having less direct contact with the natural environment and wildlife. It is an interesting trend. It is because for thousands of years, humans have been so intimately connected to nature, not only for survival, but nature impacts culture, socialization, and virtually every aspect of human existence.
This trend was first coined the “extinction of experience” in 2005 by James R. Miller, an expert in biodiversity conservation. The general public is unaware of the phenomena, and the “degradation of our natural heritage” (Miller 430). Miller further attributes the growing epidemic as the result of “collective ignorance ultimately lead to collective indifference” (Miller 430). Moreover, both urban and rural resident have contributed to this widening gap between humans and that natural world, which may cause irrevocable harm. Since 2005, researchers - Soga and Gaston, experts from a variety of disciplines have been examining the issue, and considering ways to warn people of the serious consequences (Sago and Gaston 96).
2. What contributes to the alienation (detachment, isolation) of people to the …show more content…
Urbanization has a reductive effect on biodiversity that a lot of species are unable to adapt to new urban environments, and when resources are scare, people will prevail over other species (Miller 430). As a result, there is less opportunity to interact with nature and wildlife, which can lead to reduced “emotional affinity” with nature (Sago and Gaston 96). With attitudinal changes comes behavioral changes, and people rarely interact with nature