Envisioning human–nature relationships in the Wadden: An embodied, arts‐based approach for exploring relational, more‐than‐human futures

Abstract

Dominant approaches to imagining futures are often anthropocentric, emphasising socio‐technical change without fully accounting for human–nature relationships. Yet sustainability transformations demand approaches to imagining alternative, desirable futures that centre respectful and reciprocal human–nature relationships and reveal the relational aspects of futures that can inspire and guide change. To this end, this paper explores how people envision human–nature relationships in the Wadden area of the Netherlands, using an embodied, arts‐based approach. The area, recognised for its high ecological and cultural values, is shaped by diverse and evolving human–nature relationships, offering a compelling context to pilot the approach. We conducted 20 in‐depth, inductive interviews extended with photo‐elicitation and embodied walking interviews, with diverse local actors including fishers, farmers and policy actors. Participants envisioned transformations across the economic, food, infrastructure and governance systems, rooted in changing relations between people and nature. Notably, participants envisioned a shift in collective ways of engaging with nature, from a critiqued mode of control to a relational mode based on co‐existence with nature. The Wadden was recognised as an active participant in shaping future human–nature relationships, with agency manifested in distinct ways. Our findings suggest that relational aspects of futures play a key role for transformative change for sustainability, and that futures are shaped by both human and more‐than‐human agency. Embodied, arts‐based approaches can help reveal relational aspects of imagining futures. We therefore call for further methodological innovation to explore relational futures grounded in relationships with the more‐than‐human. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.