Senses of injustices-in-place: nature’s voice through Melbourne’s environmental stewards

Abstract Ecological injustices are systemic acts and processes of misrepresentation, misrecognition, maldistribution impacts, destruction fundamental capabilities, to both human nonhuman living beings. Unpacking these context-specific requires in-depth explorations people their experiences, perceptions, types knowledge, actions, relations to, for, with beings capacities. To explore injustices-in-place, we used embedded case studies within Metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, examined the data self–others–environment sense place framework uncover people’s understandings ecological (in)justices. The findings reveal a disempowerment, conflated by unrecognized environmental work, disconnect between different groups levels society, anonymity others. Through contested lens, meanings in study sites show ways valuing nature, which is conveyed stewardship behaviors, attachment place. This analysis introduces new concept ‘ecological injustice’ that bridges justice visibilizing senses anonymity, collectivity, reciprocal nurturing, contestation unfold across human–nonhuman interactions. We discuss strategies prevent restore injustices, include building capacity through knowledge exchange, improved funding governance mechanisms, raising social–ecological awareness, finding populate our cities stewards can help deanonymize make needs others visible.