Human-nature relationships: navigating a privileged white landscape

It can be tempting to think of experiences in ‘nature’, and building ‘human-nature’ relationships, as relatively politically neutral, or even straightforwardly beneficial. In this chapter we point out a danger in this approach. We take account of the present rise of the far-right and ecofascism to offer a brief critical material overview of some of the political positions which have informed the birth of some key terms in Western environmental thinking – including ecology, ecosystems, and holism. Further to this, we discuss the re-emergence of fascist ecologies and highlight the fine line between simplistic, dualistically-informed, environmental advocacy and racist and bigoted misanthropy. We suggest that tackling environmental problems is more challenging than building connections or relationships with a perceived ‘nature’ and that outdoor and environmental educators need to remain ever vigilant of the political ramifications of the knowledges of ‘nature’ which inform their pedagogies.