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Exploring evolving spiritual values of forests in Europe and Asia: a transition hypothesis toward re-spiritualizing forests
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Paper Summary
Conflicts of Interest
Identified Weaknesses
Rating Explanation
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
From Sacred Groves to Forest Bathing: How Our Relationship With Trees Has Evolved
The study proposes a "forest spirituality transition hypothesis" suggesting a four-stage evolution of spiritual values associated with forests: "nature is powerful," "taming of nature," "rational management of nature," and "reconnecting with nature." This transition is driven by interconnected socio-cultural, technological, economic, environmental, and policy factors that shape both forest perceptions and land-use practices.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The authors are affiliated with various academic and research institutions focused on forest policy, governance, and ecosystem services. While no direct financial conflicts of interest are apparent, their professional backgrounds may influence their perspectives on the importance of spiritual values in forest management.
Identified Weaknesses
Subjectivity of Expert Knowledge
The reliance on expert knowledge, while valuable, introduces subjectivity and potential biases. The experts' perspectives may not fully represent the diversity of spiritual values associated with forests across the populations of the countries studied.
Oversimplification of Transition Stages
The transition hypothesis, while offering a framework for understanding the evolution of forest spirituality, is presented as a linear progression through four distinct stages. In reality, the evolution of spiritual values is likely more complex and nuanced, with potential overlaps and regressions between stages.
Limited Generalizability
While the study considers 13 countries across Europe and Asia, the selection of countries and experts may not be fully representative of the diversity of cultures and spiritual traditions associated with forests globally. This limits the generalizability of the findings to other regions and contexts.
Lack of Quantitative Data
The study primarily relies on qualitative data from expert interviews and document analysis. The lack of quantitative data limits the ability to rigorously test the transition hypothesis and to measure the relative importance of different drivers and indicators.
Ambiguity of Spiritual Values
The study acknowledges the challenge of defining and measuring spiritual values, which are inherently subjective and difficult to quantify. This inherent ambiguity makes it challenging to operationalize the concepts for empirical research and policy applications.
Rating Explanation
This paper offers a novel and thought-provoking framework for understanding the evolution of forest spirituality. While the methodology relies heavily on qualitative data and the transition hypothesis may be an oversimplification, the study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between humans and forests. The identified limitations do not significantly detract from the overall contribution of the paper.
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File Information
Original Title:
Exploring evolving spiritual values of forests in Europe and Asia: a transition hypothesis toward re-spiritualizing forests
File Name:
ES-2022-13509.pdf
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File Size:
0.99 MB
Uploaded:
July 14, 2025 at 05:13 PM
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