Living Symbiotic with Nature
Contributors
Araceli Camargo, MSc Neuroscience (Kings College London)
Marie Müller, PhD Candidate in Neuroscience at University College London
Charlotte Kemp, MSc Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology (University of Sussex)
We are a grant and citizen supported lab, we use our funding to create free scientific reports, which provide foundational knowledge about health, health inequities, and health justice. We prioritise the hiring of scientists and researchers from marginalised communities to ensure that the lived experience is covered in an ethical, inclusive, and accurate manner.
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We have been living in a crisis of erasure, oppression, and destruction of Nature, since the feudal systems of Europe dating back to the 5th century where Land was only for a ruling class and was meant for profit, leaving little consideration for the health of Land. This in turn exhausted the soil and the people that worked the land, making them vulnerable to disease.
In other words, the spread of feudalism ran in parallel to poor health outcomes and poor Planetary health.
Feudalism was then exchanged for capitalism which has taken a similar line and relationship to Nature.
For sixteen centuries Planet Earth has had to endure being owned, destroyed, and degraded.
The result is what we are living right now, the dysregulation of a wide range of Natural systems, including climate, food production, biodiversity, and microbiome.
It is important to understand that many Indigenous societies, who lived in kinship with Nature, resisted a feudal relationship with Nature.
They also continue to lead in the conservation of Nature to this day, protecting over 80% of the Planet’s biodiversity.
Therefore, Indigenous knowledge must be equitably platformed and listened to if we are to achieve Planetary and Human health.
Four Understandings
1
The problem is not climate change, the problem is the dysregulation of all Natural systems. Climate change is just one of the many consequences.
2
Therefore, the goal is not simply climate adaptation, the goal is to reframe, restructure, and heal our relationship with Nature.
3
Our health is tied to Planetary health.
4
Nature is our partner; therefore, we must turn to them for guidance and leadership rather than imposing a top down approach.
A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE
To address the four understandings we are proposing a symbiotic relationship with Nature. In everyday life, we tend to understand symbiosis as mutualism -- an interaction between two organisms, individuals, or groups where both organisms, individuals, or groups depend on and benefit from the interaction.
However, in biology, the term ‘symbiosis’ has a long history of debate about what it actually means and entails. In Greek, ‘symbiosis’ means ‘living together’. Although ‘living together’ does sound like a mutualistic relationship, there are, of course, non-mutualistic ways of living together, which are included in modern definitions of symbiosis. In biology, symbiosis refers to a long-term biological interaction between two organisms (or symbionts) from different species.
While this interaction can be mutualistic, two forms of non-mutualistic symbiosis are
commensalism symbiosis (where one symbiont benefits without harming the other), and
parasitic symbiosis (where one symbiont benefits while harming the other.
In biology, symbiosis, therefore, does not always refer to mutualism. Another distinction in the terminology is made when referring to so-called obligate and facultative symbiosis. Obligate symbiosis describes that the symbiosis is essential for the survival of at least one of the two symbionts, whereas facultative symbiosis describes that the symbiosis is not essential for either of the two symbionts.
In this report, we define symbiosis as;
a long-term biological and philosophical interaction between Humans and Nature that is mutualistic and obligate.
With three caveats: First, Nature, as it stands, does not need us to survive, but we need them to survive. Second, Nature already is in symbiosis with all their ecosystems, including us; it is us that needs to start reciprocating. Third, it is specifically those who participate in capitalistic values who need to reevaluate their relationship with Nature, as Indigenous Peoples all over the world have been living in symbiosis with Nature for millennia.
The pushback from the capitalist and many self-declared intellectuals is that destruction of Nature was ‘inevitable’ or the cost of “progress”. John Locke went further and proclaimed that the Land needed to be productive and create a capital gain (source). He was a key ‘scholar’ of the time and had a strong influence in how Land is viewed and valued to this day. Sadly, he did not understand that the Land was already productive; it was providing us with nourishment, medicine, shelter, and Life. It is John Locke’s line of thinking that has to be left behind, as, technically, it has never been valid.
As a society we must really ponder what we mean by progress. Is it to simply generate wealth at any cost, including to the detriment of our own health? Epidemiologists have long studied the links between the consequences of maintaining progress (profit) on Human life; life becoming increasingly fast paced, the presentation of various environmental pollutants, the experience of psychosocial stressors of sustaining an economic standing, and the erosion of life supportive practices such as sleep, good nourishment, clean air ect. (source). Simultaneously, ecologists have looked at how progress (profit) impacts non Human Nature (source).
Progress is defined as forward movement towards a destination - we should therefore ask what is our desired destination ?
PRINCIPLES OF MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS
Kinship
Nature connectedness describes our emotional relationship, or sense of Kinship, with non-Human Nature. This is to say that our sense of kindredness
It is an important concept that complements contact with Nature and knowledge about Nature, and it seems to be crucial for benefiting from Nature and acting for Nature. In other words, it is not only important to visit Nature and to know about Nature; it is that sense of connectedness, that feeling of being part of Nature, that makes us feel that we live a worthwhile Life and that also makes us act for Nature (source). Another significant aspect is learning names, life cycles, likes and dislikes, and details of various lived experiences of Nature. For example, follow the day cycle of a bird: where do they perch, what do they eat, and what is the sound of their song? Taking the time to learn and notice will provide opportunities to bond and understand the Nature around us. In turn, symbiosis can develop more organically as a person begins to know and to connect with their non-Human Kin.
Kinder Language
There is a need for kinder and more Kind driven language to help set a more symbiotic cognitive framework.
Kin = a relationship, we are in a relationship with all Nature and Biodiversity, not just People.
Nature = all Biodiversity including People
They/them = pronouns to use, removing the “it” from our language when referring to Nature. “It needs watering” to “they need watering”. It also identifies the plurality of ecosystems, even in “one” plant there are various microbial communities.
We = when we speak about justice, “We all need clean Water” - the We meaning all Beings including non Human Beings. So when we advocate for environmental justice it is not just for Human health it is for all Biodiversity.
Capitalsing = capitalising words related to Nature to make the significance and Sacredness pronounced and acknowledged.
Deep
Obersving
Taking time to deeply observe Nature means spending quality time in Nature. It is when we spend time with our Kin that we begin to create a deep bond. The observation also opens up the opportunity to understand nuances that may have not been possible otherwise. The understanding of these nuances will make us better symbiotic partners. The scale of Nature is wide and the observations can be at various scales, from tending to a garden or spending time with indoor plants, or going for a long walk in a park. The objective is to spend time and take notice of the Nature around us. In any healthy relationship, the more time spent together, the more we bond, and the more we are able to understand each other. Empathy builds, as does reciprocity, fairness, and equity.
Healing Value, not Capital Value
We should move from seeing Nature as a commodity, which includes giving it value away from current economic models.
Nature is not of value because of the capital gain it can provide, it is valuable because of Nature itself.
Nature creates, sustains, and heals Life -- a value that can only be expressed or perceived in healing terms.
It is healing for all the various nourishment that Nature gives us to sustain our health.
Reciprocity
Professor Kimmerer introduced the concept of reciprocity with Nature, we should be gifting back to Nature, rather than continually taking from Nature.
Listening
Deep observation also requires deep listening, that is, once we are emerged in Nature and brought into our Life, then learning to listen closely and intently is the next step. Listening is not only an auditory exercise, it is our entire being. Listen to when Nature tells us that they are exhausted, listen to when they tell us that they are in danger, listen to when they tell us that they are sick, listen to when they tell us that they are joyful, listen to when they tell us that they are healthy, listen to all the daily moments in order to capture the nuances of change. This listening process is where we learn to be a better partner, supporter, and friend to Nature.
Finding Our Gift
To reciprocate properly, we must take a leaf from Indigenous communities and other beings such as the Beaver. Let us take the example of the Beaver first. Their dams work with the river systems and help mediate waterflow, in turn creating complex Wetlands. These Wetlands provide an ecosystem for rich biodiversity to flourish which play a key role in Planetary health (source). In this case the River and the Wetland need the Beavers to stay healthy and to flourish. Now, let us take a People example. In the Rainforests of Meghalaya live the Khasi Peoples who, for hundreds of years, have nurtured living bridges (source). These bridges help create a Sacred Kinship with Nature; the bridges provide connections for the community, and the community provides a micro ecosystem for the local environment. Further, the bridges take away burden on the water and soil, allowing for further nourishment. Over time, the bridges become stronger, unlike Western bridges which degrade over time (source). In this example, the Khasi people are an integral part of their habitat, their habitat needs them. From these examples we can conclude that it is possible for all of us to find our gift, to understand what it is that we can gift back to Nature.
A day in the life of Symbiotic Living
In this story, we describe one day in the Life of a Person who lives in symbiosis with Nature. The relationship with Nature is both personal and systemic. This example looks at how a person who lives within a symbiotic society is able to also enact their own personal symbiosis. In our current society, we are very far from this, but accessing our own relationship with Nature is a good place to start. The purpose of this mental exercise is to allow us to imagine how we can live in symbiosis with Nature. We describe one day in the Life of one Person who lives in symbiosis with Nature, but we would like to encourage you to think about additional ways to connect with Nature. What would living in symbiosis with Nature mean to you and your Life?
7AM–9AM
Jo starts the day with a short shower before they prepare breakfast for the family. On Saturday, Jo went to the local farmer’s market to buy fresh, seasonal fruit, bread, and milk for the week. Today, they use some of it to cook a large pot of porridge for their kids and partner, and to prepare sandwiches for everyone to take to school and work. After breakfast, they quickly take the organic waste to compost it in a barrel on their balcony. The organic waste is processed by her local council. Although Jo would have preferred a garden, they found ways to integrate Nature on their balcony too. They planted herbs and tomatoes and built a bee home together with their kids.
Before they moved to this flat, Jo and their family had lived in a house with a garden. They were part of a square footage reduction programme set up by the government. Their home, which was assessed as being too big for their family, was broken down to smaller spaces to fit more families. The square footage reduction programme is not to simply create density, it is to ensure that homes are in symbiosis with their environment, healthier for people to inhabit, and can equitably house more people with dignity.
They like their new neighbourhood because it provides all the essential services. They live in a very diverse community because good and healthy housing is affordable for all income types. For many the homes are subsidised in exchange for ecological maintenance. Each home has an ecological gift to fulfil to help keep the habitat in homeostasis and good health. The whole community is engaged in ecological activities, such as maintaining trees for climate control, keeping bees for flourishing biodiversity, regenerating soil to help sustain all Life, or cleaning up the waterways to bring ecosystems back to good health. These activities are orchestrated for all abilities and ages to ensure equitable engagement. In addition, these ecological activities have secondary consequences such as creating social cohesion, creating equitable access to Nature, supporting Human microbial communities, and restoring mental health (source).
The kids are ready to go to school. Today, they take the route through the Wild Meadow, which they helped to plant. Sometimes, they prefer to take their bikes and cycle on well-maintained bike lanes. Most of the cycling route leads through a park. Sometimes, the kids need to cycle along the road, but they do not mind it too much because the bike lane is physically separated from the road by Trees and Shrubs.
Jo also takes off for work. Their partner stays at home because they only go to the office three times a week. Today is a nice day, so Jo decides to take their bike to cycle to the train station. The bike ride to the station is not too long but takes Jo through a beautiful alley where they like to take a deep breath and listen to birdsong. This reminds Jo that they wanted to build a water trough for the Birds on the balcony. At the train station, Jo considers to leave their bike at one of the plenty cycle stands but then decides to take their bike on the train. Luckily, the national rail companies have made this much easier: not only do they provide sufficient space in the carriages, but there are also no time restrictions or extra fees anymore.
After a short journey on the train, Jo cycles the last kilometre to their office where they leave their bike in a secure storage room. Their office provides showers to encourage employees to travel actively. Today, Jo does not feel the need for another shower, but they do appreciate the option.
9AM–5PM
At school, the kids have a normal school day. In the past years, there have been changes to the curriculum. The kids spend a 70/30 split between outdoors and indoors, regardless of the weather. In addition to this, the children are given various courses on Land regeneration and ecosystem health. The school has been remodelled to include a range of vegetation such as a small farm and a vegetable garden. All children are provided with free nourishing food that mostly comes from the garden or from household gardens. The school is also free from toxic chemicals. This took some investment, which was certainly worth it, as the incidences of asthma, skin conditions, and mental health problems have decreased.
Later today they have an outdoor class where they learn about gardening and how to grow their own vegetables. The kids enjoy this class because it gives them an additional break from sitting in the classroom. Today, they will harvest their first potatoes and tomatoes, which is very exciting.
At work, Jo has got a couple of meetings scheduled for the day. The company is serious about mutual symbiosis, which is now the common term and understanding, as it has proven much more effective at solving the dysregulation of Planet better than ‘carbon neutrality’ or ‘green infrastructure’. The company, for example, has campaigned to reduce industry traffic in their area, so staff can open windows for fresh air that is free from pollution. It has also invested in ecological education to help restore the local habitats and provides time for everyone, including essential workers, to spend time outdoors. The company has cancelled international travel, except for its annual meeting, where it still provides an opportunity for people to bond and meet each other. Although Jo sometimes misses travelling, they agree that it is not always necessary and appreciate their company’s actions. Finally, and most crucially, the company has restructured its capital structure, where they are no longer contributing to Nature depletion across their supply chain. They are not working for profit, they are now working for a purpose. In turn, staff show higher self-esteem as their Life has meaning (source).
The company offers organic, seasonal, and ethically sourced vegetarian and vegan options in their cafes and cafeterias and try to use local products where possible. Today, Jo brought their own sandwich. They meet their colleagues in the courtyard for lunch. Sometimes they have more time and go to a park nearby. In summer, it is part of their normal work day to go outside for lunch and for short breaks. Jo remembers that it was not always like this, but now many of their friends and colleagues feel a need for fresh air and Nature.
While Jo is still at work, their kids have already left school and are now playing with their friends in their neighbourhood. They are allowed to play outdoors unsupervised because there is not much traffic and the area feels very safe. After they moved to this neighbourhood, it took only a couple of weeks for Jo and their family to feel as part of the community. There is a strong sense of neighbourhood cohesion.
5PM–10PM
Jo has now also finished with work. Before they go home, they join a Yoga session in one of the Parks near the office. Jo likes to feel the Earth under their feet and the Grass between their toes, and to take deep breaths of fresh air. In the past years, Jo has developed a strong connection with Nature and that feeling of being part of Nature helps them to shake off the stress, lifts their mood, and makes them feel they are living a worthwhile life. All of these factors contribute to Jo leading a sustained healthy and dignified Life. After this boost of Nature, Jo heads back home where their partner and kids are already waiting with a tomato salad made from tomatoes that the kids had grown at school.
The whole family is able to get a good night’s rest, as the combination of plenty of movement, fresh air, and healthy diet helps propagate healthy levels of melatonin. The family will do non-screen related activities as the neighbourhood has a 10PM electricity control, where they are encouraged to turn off electrical use. This is good for the environment but has also led to improvement in sleep quality, which makes the family feel fresh and energised in the morning.