TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of emotions in human–nature connectedness within Mediterranean landscapes in Spain

AU - Otamendi-Urroz, Irene

AU - Quintas-Soriano, Cristina

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Expósito-Granados, Mónica

AU - Alba-Patiño, Daniela

AU - Rodríguez-Caballero, Emilio

AU - García-Llorente, Marina

AU - Castro, Antonio J.

N1 - Special Feature: Just and Sustainable Transitions in Net-Zero Asia Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. The study was funded by HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (Grant no. 101031168). Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Landscapes can lead to different emotions towards nature that in turn shape people’s environmental behavior and decision processes. This study explores the role of emotions that Mediterranean landscapes foster in people and to what extent these emotions are associated with human–nature connectedness (HNC). We conducted 176 face-to-face surveys to explore HNC and the diversity of emotions associated with a suite of landscapes in Southeast Spain. Results revealed that Marine and Coastal Protected Areas received the highest number of positive emotions, whereas Greenhouses and Non-Protected Littoral were linked to negative emotions. We propose a framework for classifying emotional landscapes according to four groups: emotionally positive, negative, polarized or neutral. Results showed that emotions might play a key role in shaping HNC in Spanish Mediterranean landscapes and may be used as a common ground for understanding roots underpinning human decisions and actions that lead to sustainable management or landscape degradation.

AB - Landscapes can lead to different emotions towards nature that in turn shape people’s environmental behavior and decision processes. This study explores the role of emotions that Mediterranean landscapes foster in people and to what extent these emotions are associated with human–nature connectedness (HNC). We conducted 176 face-to-face surveys to explore HNC and the diversity of emotions associated with a suite of landscapes in Southeast Spain. Results revealed that Marine and Coastal Protected Areas received the highest number of positive emotions, whereas Greenhouses and Non-Protected Littoral were linked to negative emotions. We propose a framework for classifying emotional landscapes according to four groups: emotionally positive, negative, polarized or neutral. Results showed that emotions might play a key role in shaping HNC in Spanish Mediterranean landscapes and may be used as a common ground for understanding roots underpinning human decisions and actions that lead to sustainable management or landscape degradation.

KW - Ecosystems Research

KW - Emotional landscape

KW - Landscape management

KW - Leverage points

KW - Social preferences

KW - Conservation

KW - Sustainability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163730642&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/460b80ae-38c6-3ea8-bcc4-868b41c0aa3a/

U2 - 10.1007/s11625-023-01343-y

DO - 10.1007/s11625-023-01343-y

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 18

SP - 2181

EP - 2197

JO - Sustainability Science

JF - Sustainability Science

SN - 1862-4065

IS - 5

ER -