Exploring evolving spiritual values of forests in Europe and Asia: a transition hypothesis toward re-spiritualizing forests
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.