Combining sense of place theory with the ecosystem services concept: empirical insights and reflections from a participatory mapping study

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Context: River landscapes represent hotspots for biodiversity and ecosystem services used and embraced by human agents. Changes in river landscapes are subjectively perceived by people and can be assessed through the lenses of cultural ecosystem services (CES) and sense of place (SOP). Objectives: This study aims to assess people–place relationships in a river landscape by integrating SOP theory and the CES concept and critically reflecting on their interplay. Research objectives relate to meanings and attachments attributed by citizens to places and the influence of the physical environment and socioeconomic settings. Methods: We employed a spatially meaningful place indicator in a public participation GIS survey, combining meanings elucidated through a free listing exercise and multiple-choice questions. Statistical analyses were employed to investigate relationships between meanings, place attachment, and environmental and social variables. Results: The results showed that (1) place meaning assessments can complement place attachment data by enhancing the understanding of relationships to biophysical and socioeconomic variables, and (2) combinations of both assessment approaches for place meanings showed that CESs were reflected in many free listed meaning types, dominantly related to forms or practices, but neglect relational values, such as “Heimat” (i.e., in German expression of the long-standing connection to an area) or memories. Conclusions: This paper explicates synergies between SOP theory and CES concept. CES research offers insights from spatial assessments, while SOP research provides theoretical depth regarding relational values linked to CES. This paper critically reflects the ostensible consent of understanding SOP as a CES and proposes considering SOP as an overarching theory for CES assessment.
Original languageEnglish
JournalLandscape Ecology
Volume37
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)633-655
Number of pages23
ISSN0921-2973
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.02.2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • Cultural ecosystem services, PPGIS, Participatory mapping, Place attachment, Place meanings, Relational values, River landscape
  • Environmental planning

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Does online-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia improve insomnia severity in nurses working shifts? Protocol for a randomised-controlled trial
  2. Non-invariance? An Overstated Problem With Misconceived Causes
  3. Efficacy of a web-based intervention with and without guidance for employees with risky drinking
  4. The polarity field concept
  5. Guest Editors' Introduction
  6. Question Answering Mediated by Visual Clues and Knowledge Graphs
  7. Understanding Similarities and Differences of Digital Health Platforms
  8. Environmental Shareholder Value Matrix
  9. Rechtschreiben
  10. Bierbrausieb
  11. Ideological Foundations of Perceived Contract Breach Associated With Downsizing
  12. Umweltrechtsschutz in China
  13. 11. Methoden-Muster
  14. The use of force against terrorists
  15. Transparency in an Age of Digitalization and Responsibility
  16. Understanding the bright side and the dark side of telework
  17. Effect of free air carbon dioxide enrichment combined with two nitrogen levels on growth, yield and yield quality of sugar beet
  18. Caring, Helping, and For-giving
  19. Managing Research Environments
  20. Pesticide peak concentration reduction in a small vegetated treatment system controlled by chemograph shape
  21. Thermal analysis of laser additive manufacturing of aluminium alloys: Experiment and simulation
  22. Quality Education and lifelong learning for all: trying to get to grips with the iridescent, multifaced, and at the same time universal character of SDG 4
  23. Sustainable engineering education in research and practice
  24. Reversed effects of grazing on plant diversity
  25. Photodegradation of the UV filter ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate under ultraviolet light
  26. Proactive behavior training
  27. Ich nicht