%0 Thesis
%9 Bachelor
%A Prosman, Marie-Anne
%D 2022
%F theses_frw:3865
%P 92
%T Socio-Cultural Valuation of Perceived Ecosystem Services: A Drentsche Aa Case Study
%U https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3865/
%X Functioning ecosystems provide a range of services that promote and sustain human well-being.  Nowadays, it is recognised that these so-called ecosystem services (ES) are essential for addressing  current societal challenges related to climate, biodiversity, water quality, and the quality of the living  environment. In research, there is generally a heavy focus on ecological and monetary aspects in  valuing ecosystem services. This paper focuses on socio-cultural valuation. This type of valuation leaves  room for the experiences and perceptions of stakeholders and stimulates the use of local knowledge  in the management of ecosystems. A participatory mapping approach is used to gain understanding  on the influences of landscape features and socio-demographic characteristics of inhabitants on the  valuation of perceived ecosystem services in the Drentsche Aa area, the Netherlands. It is found that  recreational and aesthetic values are most often mapped by participants. Influences on perceived ES  and their benefits are found for gender, land ownership, distance decay and land cover characteristics.  The results of this study suggest the expansion of ES thinking in planning practice to include sociocultural valuation of ES. Because, socio-cultural valuation of perceived ES may vary per study area. It  depends on the stakeholder characteristics, land cover characteristics, and the scale of the area and  the scale of the stakeholder analysis. Further research using a deliberative approach is needed to gain  further understanding of what drives the individuals’ values, what community values they are based  on, and whether deliberation and discussion (within a focus group) changes the perception of ES and  their benefits.