In this episode of our ecoliteracy podcast series, host Kriszta Vásárhelyi speaks with Dagna Gmitrowitz, a forest therapy guide, art therapist, and facilitator who works across individual and community development. Their discussion explores what the eco-competence Promoting Nature truly means—and how reconnecting with the living world can transform how we see ourselves and others.
Promoting Nature as Returning to Who We Are
For Dagna, promoting nature is not about raising awareness campaigns or describing ecosystems. It is about being with nature and remembering that we are inseparable from it. Modern life, she explains, has lulled many of us into the “dream of endless growth,” where identity is built around roles, possessions, and productivity. This disconnection weakens our sensory awareness and distances us from the present moment. Rebuilding a conscious relationship with nature helps us return to our roots, our wellbeing, and our true selves.
Opening Doors Through Projects and Practice
Much of Dagna’s work focuses on creating pathways for people who have limited access to nature. She describes the Accessible Forest project, which supports vulnerable and overlooked groups—refugees, seniors, people with disabilities, or those immersed in digital overload—to reconnect with the natural world through simple, inclusive practices. She also introduces Planting Stories, a project showing how even caring for a single houseplant can awaken sensitivity, presence, and joy for people who cannot spend time outdoors.
Small Acts That Spark Connection
Dagna offers beautifully simple entry points into nature connection. Indoors, she suggests sitting with a houseplant as a living being—touching its leaves, noticing its shape, observing how it responds to light. Outdoors, she recommends choosing an unfamiliar path in a park or forest to heighten the senses and shift awareness. These small practices encourage curiosity and remind people that nature is everywhere, not only in wilderness areas.
How People Change Through Nature Connection
Over years of guiding forest bathing walks, Dagna has observed profound transformations. Participants often begin with chatter and tension, but end in silence, grounding, and ease. Their breathing slows, their posture softens, and a sense of belonging emerges. This deeper attunement carries into daily life, people notice harmful behaviours, feel greater empathy for the natural world, and make more mindful choices—whether outdoors or with their own indoor plants. These shifts show that reconnecting with nature not only nurtures wellbeing but reshapes attitudes and actions.
Challenges and the Path Ahead
Promoting nature is not without challenges. Institutional structures, cultural norms, and fears—especially those linked to climate change or natural disasters—can hinder people’s ability to reconnect. Dagna emphasises the importance of gentle support, research, and collective effort to rebuild trust in nature and create safe pathways for people to re-engage with the living world.
A Dream Already Alive
When asked about her dream for a more ecoliterate world, Dagna answers simply, the dream is already here. Every moment of kindness, attention, or connection—toward plants, people, or place—helps build a regenerative, nature-aligned society. The future she imagines begins in the present, with small daily acts that open us back to life.