Inclusive Nature Education With a Multidimensional Connection Orientation for Human–Nature Well-Being

Abstract

With rapid urbanization and shifting lifestyles, restoring the balance between humans and nature has become increasingly critical. In China, nature education has expanded rapidly since 2014, guided by the vision of “Ecological Civilization”, which aims to reconnect people with their environment. However, research and practice in this field remain fragmented. This editorial proposes inclusive nature education and emphasize multidimensional connections (human-nature, people-place, and people-people) as core principles for promoting human-nature well-being. Specifically, inclusiveness requires broadening settings, participation, contents, and approaches, to ensure equity while integrating ecological inquiry, cultural perspectives, and traditional knowledge. Framing nature education through multidimensional connections emphasizes that personal, social, spatial, and ecological bonds could enrich individual development and build collective capacity for both nature and society. Looking ahead, advancing inclusive nature education will require more systematic, interdisciplinary research and collaborative approaches linking practitioners and scholars. Strengthening these efforts can further reduce barriers, foster innovation, and ultimately contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and human-nature well-being.

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2025 The Author(s). Integrative Conservation published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).