Prosman, Marie-Anne (2022) Socio-Cultural Valuation of Perceived Ecosystem Services: A Drentsche Aa Case Study. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Boumans, B.M. |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jul 2022 12:36 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Jul 2022 12:36 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3865 |
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