Storytelling and folklore have the potential to inspire environmental awareness and action by connecting people with nature in relatable and engaging ways.
In this blog by Allysha Amanda, a Master's student in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh, explores global folklore. She discusses how folklore engages communities with environmental issues (positively and negatively), how technology is influencing more recent environmental storytelling and whether folklore has an important role in helping to address climate change and biodiversity crises.
Storytelling has been used for a very long time to teach and shape communities whilst also passing on cultural beliefs, values, and customs. Folklore, which includes stories with myths, lessons, and secrets, has often taught people to take better care of our environment and reminded them of their job to protect it. As the urgency to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental damage grows, these old stories might provide a powerful way to engage people and rekindle their interest in these critical issues.
While not all folklore is suitable, many stories have some useful lessons that could be used. For example, by showing that the balance of nature is and has always been important to people's lives. Therefore, raising awareness and connecting communities with nature through particular examples of folklore might encourage deeper engagement in their environment. Such an approach could lead communities towards driving the necessary changes to protect our ecosystems, and ultimately help in addressing issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Communities all over the world have some stories that show how they relate nature to their surroundings. In Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, the land was shaped by ancient spirits who made rivers, mountains, and forests. This created a deep connection between people and nature. Native American culture also often tells stories about how holy natural places like mountains and rivers came to be, which is meant to teach people how to respect these places.
Similarly, folklore in Indonesia shows the country's long past of being aware of disasters. The World Bank ranked Indonesia as the 12th most dangerous country for natural disasters in 2020. About 40% of Indonesians are at risk of being hurt by disasters. Traditional ideas are still important to the people in the area because they help them understand and deal with environmental risks. For example, the Javanese story of the Goddess of the Southern Sea shows how powerful the ocean is and tells people to respect it and keep marine areas safe. People in the area think that not caring for nature can lead to disasters. Hence, showing respect for nature by keeping the beach clean, planting mangrove trees, and sharing wisdom with tourists about respecting the ocean, rooted in their belief in the story, has helped to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Closer to here, folklore has also been used as a way for people to connect with their nature settings. In Scotland, for example, stories about selkies (mythical beings that can change into people or seals) show respect for marine ecosystems by highlighting the beauty and mystery of the sea and the need to protect it. In the same way, tree spirits in Celtic mythology represent the link between people and forests, and have in the past taught people how important it is to take care of the forests that provided them with things they need.
These tales remind us that the environment is alive and deserves to be respected, and such stories likely contributed to the promotion of traditional environmental practices. However, folklore could also have negative consequences for people and the environment e.g., instilling fear or exploiting nature. Tourists, for example, have caused harm to the Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye by constructing stone circles. While the Fortingall Yew Tree, one of the UK's oldest trees, is dying because visitors are taking sections of it as souvenirs. Such damage is attributable, at least in part, to the legends and tales associated with these areas. Research in Madagascar, has demonstrated that ideas about magical creatures' may both protect and destroy nature. Therefore, more studies are needed to better understand the environmental impact of folklore as there is clearly an intricate connection between landscapes, folklore, and people.
Today, the practice of telling stories has changed with the advancement of technology. These environmental themes are now often spread around the world through movies and other visual media. For example, The Edinburgh Conservation Film Festival seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues and conservation efforts worldwide through video storytelling. With support from SEFARI Gateway, the festival seeks to inspire “hope, positivity, and optimism” and themes such as "Healthy People, Healthy Planet" have asked video makers to show the link between the health of people and the health of the world. A "One Health" approach that connects the health of people, animals, and the world. Through pictures and talking, the videos often highlight old knowledge about nature while using modern media, and inspire future generations to protect it. The film festival will return in 2025, so why not come along?
As the weight of scientific evidence on climate change continues to increase, awareness of its effect is also steadily growing. The UNDP's People's Climate Vote in 2024 found that 56% of people around the world think about climate change at least once a week, with 80% wanting their governments to take stronger action to protect the environment. However, there is still a need for deeper understanding of the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems. Some traditional stories might help to make these issues more tangible and relatable, bridging the gap between scientific facts and everyday experiences.
Global agreements like the Paris Agreement, for example, emphasize public engagement, with Article 12 highlighting education and awareness as essential for achieving climate goals. While, outright denial of climate change is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of mounting scientific evidence and visible environmental changes, a study by Oxford Academic on climate denial and uncertainty in Europe found that scepticism often persists in some rural areas facing economic challenges or regions reliant on fossil fuels. For these communities, culturally relevant storytelling could offer a more accessible and meaningful way to engage and address environmental issues. Folklore might provide one way to link past stories and the pressing environmental needs of today by integrating cultural values with environmental stewardship. Although care would be needed to make sure not to encourage harmful behaviours, an emphasises on the ecological importance of folklore in bridging the gap between people and science could still be useful.
Essentially, could helping people to reconnect with nature by recreating legends like Scotland's Selkies, Indonesia's Nyai Roro Kidul, and Aboriginal nations' Dreamtime work? I know some concerns remain unanswered, but I still feel it is critical to preserve traditions that promote beneficial environmental acts such as sustainable farming, fishing, and land conservation. Many such traditions help people grasp complicated concerns such as species extinction and climate change in a more relevant manner. Therefore, I’ll leave you wondering if combining folklore, education, community engagement, policy development, research and technology could offer us a better chance of collectively addressing the global challenges we’re facing?
Written by Allysha Amanda. She has been on work placement with SEFARI Gateway and is pursuing his MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement at University of Edinburgh.
Lead Image: Fairy pools, Skye. Photo by K B on Unsplash. (Free to use under the Unsplash License).