Biophilia, while often seen as a fashionable concept in design and architecture, goes well beyond being just a fad; rather, it is a necessity driven by deep human and ecological needs. In an era of rapid urbanization and increasing lifestyle-related health problems, as well as climate change and declining biodiversity, biophilia offers important solutions that can improve public health, sustainability and ecological resilience. Biophilic design can help with climate change mitigation by boosting CO2 absorption, controlling precipitation, and minimizing heat stress and the urban heat islands in cities. Biophilia in urban and architectural design allows for the reintegration of natural components into cities, which improves citizens’ quality of life and health. In the face of an increase in health concerns such as depression and anxiety, biophilic design can play an important role in boosting both mental and physical health. Biophilic design encourages the creation of spaces that promote social interaction and the formation of relationships, which is crucial in overcoming social isolation and the development of integrated communities. Biophilic settings can be used to educate people about the environment and encourage them to behave sustainably. These are important factors in developing future generations of ecologically concerned citizens. Although design trends are changing, the basic human need for contact with nature and the benefits it brings make biophilia an essential element in the design of residential, public and commercial spaces. Introducing elements of nature, such as vegetation, natural light and views of greenery, improves physical and mental health, increases productivity and creativity, and reduces stress. Biophilic spaces foster social interaction, create integrated communities and bring economic benefits, attracting customers and increasing employee satisfaction. All of this emphasizes that biophilia is a necessity, not just a passing fad in architecture and design.
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By supporting creation of protected areas, conservation projects are known to bring economic prosperity to the local communities, but also incite criticism. A common theme in the critique of conservation organizations is the proximity to neoliberal agencies seeking to capitalize on environment, which disadvantage the local communities. Community participation has been proposed as a panacea for neoliberal conservation. However, conservation efficacy is not always contingent on the community involvement and reliance on ‘traditional’ practices in protected areas has not always benefitted biodiversity. Simultaneously, critique of conservation ignores evidence of indigenous activism as well as alternative forms of environmentalism which provide a broader ethical support base for conservation. This article highlights the challenges and contradictions, as well as offers hopeful directions in order to more effectively ground compassionate conservation. https://doi.org/10.1080/23251042.2015.1048765 https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenkopnina/
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This study, through the concept of biophilia, examines how we can restore a ‘love of life’ in a world often characterised by rationalisation, destruction and alienation from self and nature. Specifically, we observe how outdoor adventures during travels might contribute to the development of biophilic feelings. To this end, we employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to analyse the narratives from nine participants in the UK, Germany and Serbia. The findings suggest that adventure activities in the outdoors foster the development of meaningful relationships with the self, other humans and non-human nature, all contributing to the enhancement of eudaimonic wellbeing. The study adds to the tourism literature by arguing that more biophilic and ecological approaches, hitherto underutilised in studying the benefits of tourism from a positive psychology perspective, might serve as a lens through which to explore meaningful social transformation in times of polycrises.
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Biodiversity preservation is often viewed in utilitarian terms that render non-human species as ecosystem services or natural resources. The economic capture approach may be inadequate in addressing biodiversity loss because extinction of some species could conceivably come to pass without jeopardizing the survival of the humans. People might be materially sustained by a technological biora made to yield services and products required for human life. The failure to address biodiversity loss calls for an exploration of alternative paradigms. It is proposed that the failure to address biodiversity loss stems from the fact that ecocentric value holders are politically marginalized and underrepresented in the most powerful strata of society. While anthropocentric concerns with environment and private expressions of biophilia are acceptable in the wider society, the more pronounced publicly expressed deep ecology position is discouraged. “Radical environmentalists” are among the least understood of all contemporary opposition movements, not only in tactical terms, but also ethically. The article argues in favor of the inclusion of deep ecology perspective as an alternative to the current anthropocentric paradigm. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2012.742914 https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenkopnina/
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This article explores how concern about animal welfare and animal rights relates to ecological citizenship by discussing student assignments written about the Dutch Party for Animals or PvdD. ‘Animal welfare’, ‘animal rights’, and ‘ecological citizenship’ perspectives offer insights into strategic choices of eco-representatives and animal rights/welfare advocates as well as educators. The assignments balance animal issues with socio-economic ones, explore the relationship between sustainability and ethics, and attribute responsibility for unsustainable or unethical practices. Analysis of student assignments reveals nuanced positions on the anthropocentrism-ecocentrism continuum, showing students’ ability to critically rethink their place within larger environmental systems. Some students demonstrated compassion for nonhumans, indicating that biophilia is evenly distributed among different groups of students. This article finds that fostering pro-environmentalism and animal welfare or rights requires the deepening of the debate contesting but also connecting key issues in sustainability and ethics. This analysis can be valuable for political parties representing nonhumans, or for education practitioners in getting students to think about the challenges in human-environment relationships and for advancing support for ecodemocracy. https://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/vol8/iss1/10/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenkopnina/
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Climate change engagement is often conducted on a jurisdictional scale, and stakeholder engagement typically brings representatives from all constituencies around a common table. Yet, individual behavior is largely influenced by norms and leaders within their cultural groups, and the “Noah’s Ark” style of stakeholder engagement largely ignores historical differences of power among participants. Co-creating safe cultural spaces with leaders within cultural communities catalyzes authentic conversation tailored to the ways in which the community talks about its own issues and creates engagement strategies, which increase climate resilience, while elevating voices of trusted sources of information.Two projects in the San Francisco North Bay Region were built on prior research on the role of cultural identity, belonging, and engagement in building resilient regions. “Elevating Latino Voices” focused on the 25% of Sonoma County residents who self-identify as Latinx, a group over-impacted by natural disasters yet underrepresented in political and economic power. As a direct result of the investigation, targeted, culturally relevant communication strategies and programs were identified, including “Promotores Verde.” Drawing from a cultural tradition of recruiting and training cohorts of young adults from within communities on specific health issues, who, in turn, become resources on the issues to their communities, “Promotores Verde” is increasing authentic engagement of the Latinx community in climate change, building leadership capacity and empowering a new generation of climate leaders. “Rising Waters” engaged principles of biophilia to bridge understanding between experts on homelessness and water quality to build empathy and address issues at their nexus.
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Dit boekje is uitgegeven in het kader van de inaugurele rede van Richard Griffioen, lector Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). De inhoud van het lectoraat is zeer divers en richt zich op de impact van AAI (in de zorg) op het welzijn van mens en dier en het beïnvloeden van de mindset in de maatschappij. Het One Health concept, waarin het welzijn van de mens én het dier hand in hand gaan, speelt hierbij een belangrijke rol. Het lectoraat richt zich ook op nieuwe technologieën zoals virtual reality en robotica toepassingen. Het doel is om programma’s te ontwikkelen die zich richten op de hond, boerderijdieren en paarden.
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This article aims to gauge students’ perceptions of the Dutch Party for Animals (PvdD) in order to reflect on the political representation of nonhumans (animals). The support for political representation of nonhumans is based on the ethical underpinning of deep ecology; growing recognition of the importance of sustainability; and increased societal support for animal rights and welfare. This article reflects on these developments using Bachelor students’ assignments from a Sustainable Business course, which asked them to reflect on the underlying principles of the PvdD. Student assignments indicate that educational efforts targeted at fostering ecological citizenship have a positive effect on the recognition and acceptance of ecocentric values. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-00001660 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenkopnina/
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This article aims to gauge students’ perceptions of the Dutch Party for Animals (PvdD) in order to reflect on the political representation of nonhumans (animals). The support for political representation of nonhumans is based on the ethical underpinning of deep ecology; growing recognition of the importance of sustainability; and increased societal support for animal rights and welfare. This article reflects on these developments using Bachelor students’ assignments from a Sustainable Business course, which asked them to reflect on the underlying principles of the PvdD. Student assignments indicate that educational efforts targeted at fostering ecological citizenship have a positive effect on the recognition and acceptance of ecocentric values. https://doi.org/10.30560/sdr.v1n1p11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenkopnina/
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