Plural values of nature drive support for nature restoration across Europe

Abstract Growing political backlash against nature restoration highlights the need to understand public values of nature. We present the first cross-national mapping of instrumental, intrinsic and relational values of nature held by citizens across 30 European countries (n = 13,763). Endorsement of all values is generally high, but also heterogeneous across countries and individuals. Moving beyond theoretical accounts of value diversity, we provide empirical evidence for a cumulative effect of values: support for nature restoration does not rely on any single value, but is significantly higher among citizens who endorse multiple value categories simultaneously. Conversely, a politically salient subgroup—young men—exhibit significantly lower value endorsement, and consequently reduced support for nature restoration. These results suggest that visible opposition coexists with widespread, underlying support. Ultimately, bundling diverse value justifications is more than an ethical requirement for inclusive transformations, it is also a promising strategy for strengthening public support for nature restoration.