About

eyes4earth.org is a portal into meaningful nature experience and human~nature connectedness. It draws on scientific research and experiential insight to explore implications for regenerative education, human health and well-being and pro-environmental consciousness.

eyes4earth.org takes an integrated and transdisciplinary approach. This means that we recognize that there are many different perspectives, approaches and knowledge which can be brought to bear on any particular topic or ecological or societal ‘problem’. eyes4earth.org aims to explore these issues from various angles and we therefore consider it important to include rational and reasoned scientifically-derived knowledge as well as the more creative, intuitive, spiritual and cross-cultural ways of knowing. eyes4earth.org focuses on diverse forms of experience as it relates to nature and discovering our humanness and place in the world.

We value interaction and participation. So, please, feel welcome to share your relevant experiences, poetry and images in the spaces provided on eyes4earth.org.

The term ‘eyes4earth’ was conceived with the following philosophy in mind:

1.  The human disconnect from nature is fundamentally one of perception and consciousness. Consciousness is a product of our accumulated experiences and our experiences are formed by what we perceive, which is usually what we pay attention to. Therefore, ‘eyes for earth’ is really about intentionally re-orienting our attention to be directed toward earth and its essential life-giving nature.
2.  In the early years, the slogan for eyes4earth.org was: “Information, Inspiration, Innovation, Integration”. These four “I’s” for earth were equally aspirations which the eyes4earth.org initiative aimed to uphold.

eyes4earth.org was founded in 2006 by Matthew Zylstra as an early initiative of the EarthCollective Network. At that time, the focus was primarily on perceptions of ecosystem services and how the growing body of research concerning the diverse tangible and intangible benefits that people receive from nature could be better valued and communicated to the public.

In 2009, eyes4earth.org adapted its aims and interface to act as a communication and outreach portal for Matthew’s doctoral research on meaningful nature experience (and which his past research had identified as a vital ecosystem service). This work was funded (2009 – 2011) by the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (C•I•B) and housed within Stellenbosch University’s Transdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Sustainability (TsamaHUB).

In 2014, and marking the completion of Matthew’s PhD dissertation, eyes4earth.org has been re-designed to act as an optimal portal for dissemination and discussion of key themes arising out of this research on meaningful nature experience, human~nature connectedness and its implications for sustainability education and environmentally responsible behaviour.

Information, stories and opinions contained on eyes4earth.org do not necessarily reflect the views of the C•I•B, TsamaHUB, Stellenbosch University, EarthCollective or other collaborators associated with the past and present research underpinning eyes4earth.org.