Jens Benöhr, Chile

Nature for me is the Universe. The fabric of reality, the unspoken laws of the game. On the other hand, nature in its colloquial definition represents to me “relationships”. Not something outside us, but a flux of energy that emerges from interactions between species and our environment. We ourselves are not part of nature, we…

Nareerat Boonchai, Thailand

To me nature is like an inventor, scientist, artist, composer, philosopher, an expert of different fields all in one. Nature is not only about places, trees, wildlife, mountains, skies, rivers and sunlight that we see when we look out, but also intangibles like the whisper of the wind and the smell after a rain. Do…

Yingshan Lau, Singapore

Nature is time and space, and the laws that govern them. It is the cycle of life: birth, growing-up and maturing, and death – and repeat. It is about the relationships in that space: between different lifeforms and between different physical and chemical elements. It is about the limits that these laws place on us,…

Mustafa Asaa’d , Syria (now in Canada)

Nature to me means the safest place. Nature is a balance without any outside interference or written law, it is just like a coherent symphony. I consider it a very important part of my life. It is a place to escape from the pressures of daily life and enjoy the beautiful views. It gives me…

Fredrik Løksti, Norway

Nature is an integral part of Norwegian life.  From ski trips during the winter, which happens to last a very long time, to hiking in the forest during the summer, Norwegians are lucky to grow up surrounded by a beautiful and wild landscape. For me growing up in Northern Norway, it was ingrained in our everyday…

Karishma Shah, Kenya

Growing up in Kenya, nature has always been a huge part of my life. I was lucky enough to have camping spots, hiking trails and national parks not too far from home and even luckier to have gotten the chance to explore them. Nature, to me, has always been a bit of an escape. It…

Sam Preston, United Kingdom

Nature to me *is* me: we are nature. It is the foundation for everything; without it, we would not only *have* nothing but we simply could not *be*. At the very, least, then, we must respect and protect the force to which we owe absolutely everything. Amazingly, while nature is synonymous with our existence, our…

Zoltan Mityok, Hungary

[Speaking about my childhood in Hungary, over 70 years ago]… At that time the lakes, and the streams and the rivers, along the Duna and the Tisza, all of the people would fish. All they needed were baskets to scoop up enough fish. Now, they cannot fish. Neither in the Danube, nor the Tisza, the two…

Enoa Stueber, Hawaii (United States of America)

Growing up in Hawaii, spearfishing has been an integral part of my identity, culture, (and diet!). While diving I am not only immersed in the underwater landscapes but also am able to interact with the diverse sea life and become in tuned with the ocean and its inhabitants. As the environment has become more delicate…

Michelle Balfe , United States

From a young age, wandering the land of sagebrush and grasses, I felt an embrace from the natural world and all that it contains. The feeling of safety, combined with a fully attentive curiosity filled my days. Introducing myself to the special beings such as rocks, plants, water, and animals became part of my own…