Green companions: Affordances of human-tree relationships
Vainio, Kaisa Kristiina; Takala, Tuomo; Limpens, Juul; Lummaa, Karoliina; Korrensalo, Aino; Räsänen, Aleksi; Tuittila, Eeva-Stiina (2025-01-27)
Springer
27.01.2025
Vainio, K.K., Takala, T., Limpens, J. et al. Green companions: Affordances of human–tree relationships. Ambio 54, 850–868 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-02098-1.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202501291385
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202501291385
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Trees offer multiple benefits, including impacts on physical and mental health. In this interdisciplinary study, we explored the relationships humans develop with specific favourite trees based on our survey data (n = 158) collected in the Netherlands. Here, we examined action possibilities (affordances) provided by trees, including immaterial actions, such as memorisation or the enjoyment of beauty. We implemented the affordance theory with mixed-method analysis. We identified three distinct types of human-arboreal relationships offering a different variety of action possibilities: nostalgic relationships, nurturing relationships, and empowering relationships. We assume that when humans form relationships with trees, the essence of trees is not their characteristics, but the possibilities for action. We recommend that urban green spaces would support interactions between humans and trees. By strengthening our connectedness with nature, it is possible to promote both human well-being and to strengthen environmentally responsible values and behaviours.
Trees offer multiple benefits, including impacts on physical and mental health. In this interdisciplinary study, we explored the relationships humans develop with specific favourite trees based on our survey data (n = 158) collected in the Netherlands. Here, we examined action possibilities (affordances) provided by trees, including immaterial actions, such as memorisation or the enjoyment of beauty. We implemented the affordance theory with mixed-method analysis. We identified three distinct types of human-arboreal relationships offering a different variety of action possibilities: nostalgic relationships, nurturing relationships, and empowering relationships. We assume that when humans form relationships with trees, the essence of trees is not their characteristics, but the possibilities for action. We recommend that urban green spaces would support interactions between humans and trees. By strengthening our connectedness with nature, it is possible to promote both human well-being and to strengthen environmentally responsible values and behaviours.
Kokoelmat
- Avoin saatavuus [38865]
Ellei muuten mainita, aineiston lisenssi on https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/