Sociocultural valuation of ecosystem services provided by the Kiskunság sand ridge region
Abstract
This paper presents first hand results of an ongoing international project (OpenNESS EU FP7) which focuses on the operationalization of the ecosystem services (ES) and natural capital (NC) concepts in real world decision making contexts. The Hungarian case study research is carried out in the central part of Kiskunság and aims at supporting more sustainable land-use and water management practices in the region. We explored the local population’s preferences about ES through a preference assessment survey as one of the first steps of the research process. In sum 190 responses were collected in the case study area with the photo-elicitation method between May and July 2015.13 ecosystem services – illustrated by photographs – were ranked in the survey according to their importance to the personal well-being of respondents. The regulation of water quality and quantity was perceived as the most important ES of the region. Honey and nectar, soil fertility, biodiversity maintenance, herbal plants and timber were ranked second to the sixth place, accordingly. Cross table analysis highlighted that individual perceptions of ES can be highly different even in a relatively homogenous socio-cultural environment. Stakeholder involvement and multi-criteria decision support tools are suggested in situations where these divergent perceptions and value judgements have to be harmonized in land use decisions.
References
Baveye, P. C., Baveye, J., Gowdy, J. (2013): Monetary valuation of ecosystem services: It matters to get the timeline right. – Ecol. Econ. 95: 231–235.
Chan, K. M. A., Guerry, A. D., Balvanera, P., Klain, S., Satterfield, T., Basurto, X., Bostrom, A., Chuenpagdee, R.,. Gould, R., Halpern, B. S., Hannahs, N., Levine, J., Norton, B., Ruckelshaus, M., Russell, R., Tam, J. & Woodside, U. (2012): Where are Cultural and Social in Ecosystem Services? A framework for constructive engagement. – BioScience 62(8): 744–756.
García-Llorente, M., Martín-López, B., Iniesta-Arandia, I., López-Santiago, C. A., Aguilera, P. A. & Montes, C. (2012): The role of multi-functionality in social preferences toward semi-arid rural landscapes: An ecosystem service approach. – Environ. Sci. Policy 19–20: 136–146.
Haines-Young, R. & Potschin, M. (2010): The links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. – In: Raffaelli, D.G. & Frid, C. L. J., (Eds.): Ecosystem ecology: a new synthesis. Cambridge University Press, pp. 110–139.
Hurd, P. (2001) G test. http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/~phurd/cruft/g.test.r
Kelemen, E. (2013): Az ökoszisztéma szolgáltatások közösségi részvételen alapuló, ökológiai közgazdaságtani értékelése. PhD értekezés, Szent István Egyetem, Környezettudományi Doktori Iskola, 196 pp.
Kelemen, E. & Pataki, Gy. (szerk.) (2014a): Ökoszisztéma szolgáltatások: A természet- és társadalomtudományok metszéspontjában. SZIE KTI–ESSRG, Gödöllő–Budapest, 200 pp.
Kelemen, E. & Pataki, Gy. (2014b): Az ökoszisztéma szolgáltatások értékelésének elméleti megalapozása. – In: Kelemen E. & Pataki Gy. (szerk.): Ökoszisztéma szolgáltatások: A természet- és társadalomtudományok metszéspontjában. SZIE KTI – ESSRG, Gödöllő –Budapest, pp. 37–57.
Kenter, J. O., Hyde, T., Christie, M., Fazey, I. (2011): The importance of deliberation in valuing ecosystem services in developing countries – Evidence from the Solomon Islands. – Global Environ. Chang. 21(2): 505–521.
MA – Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005): Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. – World Resource Institute, Washington DC. 137 pp.
R Core Team (2014). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. – R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL http://www.R-project.org/
Tallis, H., Mooney, H., Andelman, S., Balvanera, P., Cramer, W., Karp, D., Polasky, S., Reyers, B., Taylor, R., Running, S., Thonicke, K., Tietjen, B. & Walz, A.. (2012): A global system for monitoring ecosystem service change. – BioScience 62: 977–986.
