Both frequency and diversity of childhood nature experiences are associated with self‐reported pro‐biodiversity behaviours in adulthood

Abstract

Abstract The ongoing degradation of Earth's ecosystems through human activities poses a severe threat to biodiversity. To mitigate this crisis, substantial changes in human behaviour are required. The frequency of nature experiences, particularly during childhood, has been established as a key predictor of actions that support biodiversity (hereafter, pro‐biodiversity behaviours). However, the significance of the quality of these experiences remains poorly understood. In this study, we analysed a large sample of Japanese adults and observed positive associations between both the frequency and diversity of nature experiences during childhood and increased pro‐biodiversity behaviours. These associations held true across a range of behaviours, including the purchase of eco‐friendly products, reduced use of pesticides in domestic gardens and contributions to conservation organisations. Our findings indicate that the association between pro‐biodiversity behaviours and the diversity of childhood nature experiences is comparable to that of the frequency of such experiences. These findings suggest that expanding people's access to diverse and frequent nature experiences can play a crucial role in promoting positive behavioural changes to prevent biodiversity loss. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Keywords

• behavioural change
• connection to nature
• extinction of experience
• human–nature interaction
• urban greenspace