highnature

Highnature is a neologism used in some environmental psychology, design, and landscape discourse to describe a mode of engagement with the natural world that aims to maximize both human well-being and ecological sustainability. It encompasses experiences, practices, and policies that elevate the perception, meaning, and value of nature within everyday life and built environments. The term draws on ideas from biophilic design, nature-based solutions, ecopsychology, and landscape aesthetics. While not a formal field with universal consensus, highnature emphasizes accessible, high-quality, and meaningful nature experiences across scales, from small urban green spaces to expansive natural settings, with attention to biodiversity and resilience.

Key elements include accessibility, experiential quality, ecological integrity, and the measurement of well-being outcomes. Methods associated with highnature involve designing restorative environments, multisensory nature experiences, and viewpoints that provide distinctive perspectives, alongside programming that links people with ecosystems while avoiding overexploitation. In practice, highnature is invoked in urban planning, public health, tourism, and education to justify investments in green infrastructure, green corridors, parks, and nature-based learning initiatives.

Criticism centers on potential vagueness, the risk of privileging certain aesthetic ideals, and concerns about co-optation by commercial interests. Proponents argue that highnature can foster pro-environmental attitudes and long-term stewardship by making nature salient, emotionally meaningful, and practically integrated into daily life. See also biophilic design, nature-based solutions, ecopsychology, restorative environments, and urban green space.