Nature-Based Solution: Tackling Hunger and Poverty through Outdoor Education
- Dirk Reber
- May 19
- 6 min read
Having worked in international development cooperation for over 20 years and being an active and engaged outdoor and nature guide on the international stage, I am often asked questions such as, “What does nature education have to do with development cooperation?”, “How do you tackle hunger and poverty by hugging trees?” and “Why are you always outdoors and how does that help anyone?”. In fact, these are not unusual questions for me. Many people approach me with these questions, wondering what outdoor activities have to do with fighting hunger and poverty and serving the common good.
These questions reveal a misunderstanding — not just about my work, but also about the deep interconnection between people, ecosystems, and the systems that govern our lives. I want to unpack this.
Alienation from Nature
In the process of civilizing, humans have become increasingly alienated from our original home: the Earth and nature. We have created systems that only apply to human coexistence. We settled down, started agriculture, defined property rights, created nations, established political systems, developed economic systems, and advanced technology — all constructs that primarily regulate human interaction. In doing so, we have failed to adequately consider other living beings on this planet and have treated nature as an infinite resource.
The political, social and economic systems we have treated the Earth so ruthlessly that everything now seems to be out of balance. Climate crisis, species extinction, heat records, forest fires, floods and pandemics – it is almost as if the Earth itself is reacting to the mistreatment by these systems. This lack of connection with our Mother Earth leads to indifference and, ultimately, disrespect, which manifests itself in the various forms of destruction that the human species is currently experiencing.
However, it seems that humans have not yet fully woken up. In trying to repair the damage we have caused, we are currently changing how the planet works. It's not just human activities that have stained every corner of the planet. Simply changing to green technology, greenwashing existing products and services, and focusing only on CO₂ emissions (also known as carbon tunnel vision, whereby humans, organizations and governments focus so much on reducing CO₂ emissions that they ignore or overlook other critical environmental and social issues, such as biodiversity loss, deforestation, soil degradation, water scarcity, pollution, social justice, human rights and local community resilience) will not create long-term change. At the same time, the simultaneous arrival of a range of powerful new technologies is signaling a potential takeover of Earth's most basic operations. From this point onwards, technologies such as gene editing and climate engineering will transform an already damaged planet into an increasingly synthetic whole, further widening the existing rift between humans and nature.
The Roots of Hunger and Poverty Run Deep.
Let's start by acknowledging the truth: hunger and poverty are not caused by a lack of food or money. They are symptoms of the broken economic, social and political systems. These systems were made by humans and only serve humans, leaving nature with just the role of being a “resource”.
Furthermore, these systems do not serve all humans: people experience hunger because local food systems have been disrupted by climate change, land grabbing, conflict or unsustainable agriculture. Poverty persists where communities are disempowered and excluded from decision-making processes. There seems to be a paradox: human-made systems have brought a certain degree of development and wealth, yet many people are not benefiting from them at all. Not only does the human-made system fail to acknowledge our relationship with nature, it also ignores the fact that we live in an ecological system on this planet. Therefore, if we are to tackle the issues of hunger and poverty, we need systemic solutions. We must rethink our systems deeply.
As humans, it is our task to fundamentally change our worldview and recognize that we are part of a greater whole. We must reopen ourselves to nature and repair our relationship with it. Nurturing our connection to nature and changing the human-made system, which is responsible for hunger and poverty, may be the most important task of the 21st century.
Outdoor Education: A Catalyst for Systemic Change
Whenever I talk about outdoor and nature education, people often misunderstand it as just "fun in the forest". They assume and judge that being outdoors is purely selfish and only serves one's own ego. However, when outdoor and nature education is approached intentionally, it can become a vehicle for critical consciousness, leadership development, and community resilience. Here's how:
Reconnecting people with food systems:
Many people today grow up without any real understanding of where food comes from. Outdoor education reconnects them with the soil. It teaches them how food is grown, how ecosystems function and how to reclaim local food sovereignty. Outdoor and nature education inspires a different way of seeing nature: not as a resource, but as a living entity. They learn that animals, plants and minerals are all part of the ecosystem, and that every life-form is connected to each other and plays a part in keeping the ecosystem running. This is particularly relevant in rural areas, where traditional — especially indigenous — agricultural knowledge is fading, and in urban areas, where nutrition insecurity and food obesity are increasing.
Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Crisis:
Climate change is already disrupting livelihoods, particularly in regions that depend on agriculture. Outdoor education enables people to understand climate science as a lived experience rather than abstract data. They observe the impact of droughts on crops. They experience the changing seasons. Crucially, they also learn how to adapt — how to grow diverse crops, store water, build with natural materials and develop climate-smart practices. Resilience is not just about techniques. It's also about mindset. Spending time in nature, navigating difficult terrain and working together in unpredictable conditions builds emotional resilience, adaptability and problem-solving skills. All of which are crucial in a human-made world facing ecological and economic instability.
Empowerment through experience
Outdoor and nature education is not just about receiving knowledge. In outdoor and nature education, participants are co-creators. They learn through action, leadership, failure and perseverance. Whether it's navigating with a compass, leading a group hike or cooking over a fire, these activities are empowering. This experiential approach cultivates confidence, leadership and agency. These are the qualities that people and communities need to lift themselves out of poverty, not just externally driven aid, but internal capacity and belief. When a person discovers their own strength on a mountain trail, they begin to believe that they can shape their own future. They realize that they are co-creators of their own life and of the future of this planet.
Healing the Disconnect
Colonialism, urbanization and modern education systems have created a deep rift between humans and nature. This 'disconnection' (I dislike this term as it is misleading — humans are always connected to nature; otherwise, they cannot live) lies at the heart of many crises, including ecological collapse, mental health epidemics, broken economies and psychological issues. Outdoor and nature education can heal this 'disconnection': listening to the forest, sitting by fires and learning from indigenous communities, for example. It reminds us that we are nature, not separate from it. This shift in worldview is foundational. It reorients priorities towards regeneration, collaboration and care. It's a small revolution in how people see the world — and themselves.
Nature-Based Education is Development Cooperation.
To make my position clear, I believe that nature-based education is fundamental to changing our human-made systems. I am not suggesting that outdoor education is the only solution to eliminating hunger and poverty. However, it is one of the most powerful and, unfortunately, most underutilized solutions. It complements traditional development efforts by addressing root causes.
It builds capacity — technical, emotional and social.
It promotes agency — people don't wait for change; they initiate it.
It restores ecological literacy, which is essential for the sustainable use of nature.
It creates community cohesion through shared experience and collective action.
Without an ecological and educational dimension, a key pillar of international development is missing. In fact, many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intertwined with what nature education offers:
SDG 1 (No Poverty): fostering livelihoods through skills and mindset.
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) – reconnecting people with sustainable food systems.
SDG 4 (Quality Education): through transformative, experiential learning.
SDG 13 (Climate Action): building resilience and awareness.
SDG 15 (Life on Land): through education that protects ecosystems.
So why am I always outdoors?
Because nature is the best classroom we have. Nature is magical.
The crises we face — climate, food, health and inequality — are interconnected, as are the solutions.
The solution lies in nature, not in creating a synthetic world. Empowerment is not delivered in a training hall. It is cultivated step by step with muddy hands and courageous hearts.
Let's stop viewing outdoor education as an optional extra or a holiday retreat. It is an urgent, practical tool for transformation. Let's stop drawing hard lines between the human-made world and nature. Humans are part of nature; it is their home.
P.S. And yes, I hug trees. Not because it’s symbolic. It reminds me of my roots, and the trees are fantastic mentors, teaching me to take responsibility for growing something better.
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