(Re)shaping human-nature interactions through digital technologies: A literature review of the mediating role of digital technologies in human nature relations

The past two decades have shown an incredible development in the domain of (digital) technologies and communication, including in the conservation domain. In this small Knowledge Innovation Project within the KB programme ‘nature inclusive transitions’, we have explored and identified some of the key-topical questions that consider the role of digital technology in human-nature interactions. Although the amount of research on the link between humans, nature and technology seems to be growing quite fast, our review shows that many topics are still only tentatively explored. Future research could enhance our understanding if and how technology drives social and ecological changes. From such an increased understanding, explicitly try to influence the direction of these forces towards a transformative agenda. In this, a critical investigation into the potential mediating role of technology and how this relates to non-mediated interactions between humans and nature is key to our understanding of emerging socio-ecological-technical systems.