Reconnecting People to Their Natural Environment

Global factors and the challenges of urban life are factors that affect the ability of our youth and citizens to understand the natural environment. Many people are mentally and physically disconnected from the natural environment. It is our responsibility as natural resource professionals to build stronger and more relevant ways to connect the public with the importance of local, regional, and global aquatic resources. Creative and relevant outreach efforts must engage people to understand the critical components that support all of us. Nowadays, it is more common to have a TV, a cell phone, or a computer at home than to have a vegetable garden, yet even simulated farming is available on the Web. How can we increase the public awareness of the global and local human connections to the environment that provides our food, water, and air? Effecting these changes will require committed professionals working locally, regionally, and internationally. Measures that allocate the quantity of resources used in the production, distribution and consumption of products are excellent tools for understanding the complexity of individual personal decisions. We discuss other tools that can be useful to illustrate the spiritual, ecological and social benefits of reconnecting people to their environment.