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Navigating pluralism: Understanding perceptions of the ecosystem services concept

Author

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  • Ainscough, Jacob
  • de Vries Lentsch, Aster
  • Metzger, Marc
  • Rounsevell, Mark
  • Schröter, Matthias
  • Delbaere, Ben
  • de Groot, Rudolf
  • Staes, Jan

Abstract

Being open to multiple interpretations allows the ecosystem services concept to operate as a boundary object, facilitating communication and cooperation between different user groups. Yet there is a risk the resultant pluralism limits the capacity of ecosystem services assessments to directly inform decision and policy making, and that the concept could be used to support environmentally or socially harmful activities. Here, we report results from a large mixed methods survey conducted among academics, policymakers and practitioners working in the field of ecosystem services across Europe. We use these results to explore the trade-off that exists between the role of ecosystem services as a boundary object and the needs of policy and decision makers of more standardisation. We conclude this can be done by working towards the standardisation of ecosystem service assessments within specific jurisdictions, whilst maintaining forums for debate, collaboration, and critical reflection within the broader ecosystem services community. We also aim to deduce guiding principles to ensure the ecosystem services concept is not used to support detrimental activities. The consideration of shared and cultural values, the expansion of inter- and transdisciplinary work and the integration of the concept of sustainability are identified as valuable guiding principles to this end.

Suggested Citation

  • Ainscough, Jacob & de Vries Lentsch, Aster & Metzger, Marc & Rounsevell, Mark & Schröter, Matthias & Delbaere, Ben & de Groot, Rudolf & Staes, Jan, 2019. "Navigating pluralism: Understanding perceptions of the ecosystem services concept," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:36:y:2019:i:c:15
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.01.004
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    Cited by:

    1. Jen Iris Allan & Graeme Auld & Timothy Cadman & Hayley Stevenson, 2022. "Comparative Fortunes of Ecosystem Services as an International Governance Concept," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(1), pages 62-75, February.
    2. Evans, Nicole M. & Carrozzino-Lyon, Amy L. & Galbraith, Betsy & Noordyk, Julia & Peroff, Deidre M. & Stoll, John & Thompson, Aaron & Winden, Matthew W. & Davis, Mark A., 2019. "Integrated ecosystem service assessment for landscape conservation design in the Green Bay watershed, Wisconsin," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    3. Thompson, Kate & Sherren, Kate & Duinker, Peter N. & Terashima, Mikiko & Hayden, Anders, 2024. "Building the case for protecting urban nature: How urban planners use the ideas, rhetoric, and tools of ecosystem services science," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Johannes Rüdisser & Georg Leitinger & Uta Schirpke, 2020. "Application of the Ecosystem Service Concept in Social–Ecological Systems—from Theory to Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-6, April.
    5. Hysing, Erik, 2021. "Challenges and opportunities for the Ecosystem Services approach: Evaluating experiences of implementation in Sweden," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    6. Hoelting, Kristin R. & Morse, Joshua W. & Gould, Rachelle K. & Martinez, Doreen E. & Hauptfeld, Rina S. & Cravens, Amanda E. & Breslow, Sara J. & Bair, Lucas S. & Schuster, Rudy M. & Gavin, Michael C., 2024. "Opportunities for improved consideration of cultural benefits in environmental decision-Making," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Jacob Ainscough & Jasper O. Kenter & Elaine Azzopardi & A. Meriwether W. Wilson, 2024. "Participant perceptions of different forms of deliberative monetary valuation: Comparing democratic monetary valuation and deliberative democratic monetary valuation in the context of regional marine ," Environmental Values, , vol. 33(2), pages 189-215, April.
    8. Maund, Phoebe R. & Irvine, Katherine N. & Dallimer, Martin & Fish, Robert & Austen, Gail E. & Davies, Zoe G., 2020. "Do ecosystem service frameworks represent people’s values?," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    9. Miriam von Thenen & Aurelija Armoškaitė & Víctor Cordero-Penín & Sara García-Morales & Josefine B. Gottschalk & Débora Gutierrez & Malena Ripken & Pascal Thoya & Kerstin S. Schiele, 2021. "The Future of Marine Spatial Planning—Perspectives from Early Career Researchers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Balázsi, Ágnes & Dänhardt, Juliana & Collins, Sue & Schweiger, Oliver & Settele, Josef & Hartel, Tibor, 2021. "Understanding cultural ecosystem services related to farmlands: Expert survey in Europe," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    11. Chalkiadakis, Charis & Drakou, Evangelia G. & Kraak, Menno-Jan, 2022. "Ecosystem service flows: A systematic literature review of marine systems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    12. Espécie, Mariana de Assis & de Carvalho, Pedro Ninô & Pinheiro, Maria Fernanda Bacile & Rosenthal, Vinicius Mesquita & da Silva, Leyla A. Ferreira & Pinheiro, Mariana Rodrigues de Carvalhaes & Espig, , 2019. "Ecosystem services and renewable power generation: A preliminary literature review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 39-51.
    13. Lina Wang & Enyi Yu & Shuang Li & Xiao Fu & Gang Wu, 2021. "Analysis of Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs and Synergies in Ulansuhai Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Daněk, Jan & Blättler, Linda & Leventon, Julia & Vačkářová, Davina, 2023. "Beyond nature conservation? Perceived benefits and role of the ecosystem services framework in protected landscape areas in the Czech Republic," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    15. Jakob Lundgren, 2021. "The Grand Concepts of Environmental Studies Boundary objects between disciplines and policymakers," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(1), pages 93-100, March.
    16. Frisk, Emrik Lundin & Volchko, Yevheniya & Sandström, Olof Taromi & Söderqvist, Tore & Ericsson, Lars O. & Mossmark, Fredrik & Lindhe, Andreas & Blom, Göran & Lång, Lars-Ove & Carlsson, Christel & Nor, 2022. "The geosystem services concept – What is it and can it support subsurface planning?," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    17. Finisdore, John & Rhodes, Charles & Haines-Young, Roy & Maynard, Simone & Wielgus, Jeffrey & Dvarskas, Anthony & Houdet, Joel & Quétier, Fabien & Lamothe, Karl A. & Ding, Helen & Soulard, François & V, 2020. "The 18 benefits of using ecosystem services classification systems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    18. Andrew N Kadykalo & Lisa A Kelly & Albana Berberi & Jessica L Reid & C Scott Findlay, 2021. "Research effort devoted to regulating and supporting ecosystem services by environmental scientists and economists," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, May.

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