TY - JOUR

T1 - Socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services

T2 - Uncovering the links between values, drivers of change, and human well-being

AU - Iniesta-Arandia, Irene

AU - García-Llorente, Marina

AU - Aguilera, Pedro A.

AU - Montes, Carlos

AU - Martín-López, Berta

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - Ecosystem services studies currently lack information regarding stakeholders' socio-cultural values. This information is highly relevant to human well-being, which is the motivation of ecosystem services assessments. We present results from an analysis of stakeholders' perceptions of ecosystem services, well-being and drivers of change in two semi-arid watersheds in south-eastern Spain. Based on the information compiled through a literature review, participant observation and semi-structured interviews, we designed a questionnaire and conducted 381 interviews. Our results show that semiarid watersheds deliver a large variety of ecosystem services; however, these services are perceived in different ways. We identified five stakeholder groups, including: locals dependent on provisioning ecosystem services, locals not directly dependent on provisioning ecosystem services, environmental and local development professionals and rural and nature tourists. Overall, provisioning services related to traditional practices were perceived as highly important and highly vulnerable by every stakeholder group. However, we found contrasting perceptions of some ecosystem services among stakeholders and of the relevant drivers of change and well-being. We suggest that socio-cultural valuation is a useful tool to prioritize ecosystem services but more attention should be directed to emerging trade-offs. Linking values to other stakeholder perceptions might be a useful way to move forward in ecosystem services valuation.

AB - Ecosystem services studies currently lack information regarding stakeholders' socio-cultural values. This information is highly relevant to human well-being, which is the motivation of ecosystem services assessments. We present results from an analysis of stakeholders' perceptions of ecosystem services, well-being and drivers of change in two semi-arid watersheds in south-eastern Spain. Based on the information compiled through a literature review, participant observation and semi-structured interviews, we designed a questionnaire and conducted 381 interviews. Our results show that semiarid watersheds deliver a large variety of ecosystem services; however, these services are perceived in different ways. We identified five stakeholder groups, including: locals dependent on provisioning ecosystem services, locals not directly dependent on provisioning ecosystem services, environmental and local development professionals and rural and nature tourists. Overall, provisioning services related to traditional practices were perceived as highly important and highly vulnerable by every stakeholder group. However, we found contrasting perceptions of some ecosystem services among stakeholders and of the relevant drivers of change and well-being. We suggest that socio-cultural valuation is a useful tool to prioritize ecosystem services but more attention should be directed to emerging trade-offs. Linking values to other stakeholder perceptions might be a useful way to move forward in ecosystem services valuation.

KW - Critical ecosystem services

KW - Semi-arid watershed

KW - Social perceptions

KW - Stakeholders

KW - Tradeoffs

KW - Value conflicts

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Critical ecosystem services

KW - Semi-arid watershed

KW - Social perceptions

KW - Stakeholders

KW - Tradeoffs

KW - Value conflicts

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84918779477&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.09.028

DO - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.09.028

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84918779477

VL - 108

SP - 36

EP - 48

JO - Ecological Economics

JF - Ecological Economics

SN - 0921-8009

ER -