Extending actor engagement: human–environmental engagement in multilevel socioecological systems

Purpose This research aims to demonstrate the extension of actor engagement to include human–environmental engagement within broader socioecological systems. Design/methodology/approach This work takes the perspective of Neo-animist Ontology which posits that since non-human biotic entities act as ecological and cultural resource integrators they should be considered as actors. In addition, the present article uses the concept of Nature’s Contributions to People, here renamed Nature’s Contributions to Humans (NCHs) to demonstrate the complex cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions of human–environmental interaction. The work also draws on existing concepts of actor engagement within multilevel socioecological systems. Findings This study offers a conceptual framework within which to understand how the complex interactions between humans and natural entities produce human–environmental engagement. It also provides evidence for three forms of human–environmental engagement, that is, purposeful involvement between humans and nature (natural ecosystems and non-human bioactors) with cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions. These engagement types have been termed: Nature–human regulating engagement; Nature–human material and cultural engagement; and Mindful engagement with nature. As this work shows, they arise due to human–environmental interactions involving the three forms of NCHs (regulating, material and non-material) and sustainable practices through which the environment and humans exert mutual influence upon one another. Additionally, this work identifies key focal actors and the novel, creative practices they implement to re-shape inter-industrial service ecosystems so demonstrating many-to-many A2A interactions within a socioecological system. Research limitations/implications Future areas of research include in-depth investigation of the psychological (emotional-sensorial) processes of human engagement with nature and examination of the perspectives of non-human bioactors in human-initiated engagement with nature. Originality/value This study takes our understanding of engagement beyond its current focus on human-centric service ecosystems to include human–environmental engagement in socioecological systems. This involves the novel extension of the concept of an actor to include non-human biological agents involved in the provision of NCHs and enables an examination of how these so-called bioactors interact—directly or indirectly—with human actors. A further innovation here is the simultaneous zooming in and zooming out on actor engagement to gain a truly multilevel perspective.