National Geographic explains the connection between caring for nature and caring for each other, and how Roots of Empathy fits in:
“The fact that a child cares about the welfare of a vulnerable animal that can’t protect itself is good support for moral development,” says Mary Gordon, founder and president of Roots to Empathy, an organization aimed at fostering empathy in children. “When children understand what another being feels, our research shows that they help more and hurt less. “