From Biophilia to Stewardship: Human Wellbeing and Wetland Conservation Through Meaningful Human–Waterfowl Interactions

Abstract

Human–animal interactions have been associated with numerous benefits for human wellbeing, yet their potential contributions to conservation have received comparatively little theoretical attention. The biophilia hypothesis proposes that humans possess an innate tendency to affiliate with living organisms and provides a compelling theoretical foundation for examining how meaningful interactions with animals may influence both personal and environmental outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to propose a deductively derived conceptual framework describing how meaningful interactions with domesticated waterfowl may contribute simultaneously to human wellbeing and wetland conservation. Interpreted through the biophilia hypothesis, the proposed framework describes two complementary pathways. The therapeutic pathway suggests that meaningful human–waterfowl interactions foster emotional connection with living organisms, contributing to human wellbeing. The conservation pathway proposes that emotional connection may stimulate curiosity and learning about waterfowl and the wetland ecosystems they naturally represent, fostering appreciation for wetlands, conservation awareness, and stewardship. Central to the framework is the proposition that domesticated waterfowl retain a recognizable ecological identity despite domestication, providing a conceptual bridge between meaningful human–animal interactions and the ecosystems these animals naturally represent. The proposed framework integrates concepts from biophilia, human–animal interaction research, conservation education, and conservation psychology while generating empirically testable hypotheses for future research. More broadly, it suggests that meaningful interactions with domesticated waterfowl may represent one pathway through which human wellbeing and wetland conservation can be advanced simultaneously. Although broadly applicable across multiple settings, the proposed framework has particular applicability to zoological institutions, where meaningful observation of ambassador waterfowl, interpretation, and conservation education may provide opportunities to simultaneously promote visitor wellbeing and strengthen conservation awareness and stewardship.