Perceiving Patagonia - An assessment of social values and perspectives regarding watershed ecosystem services and management in southern South America

• Autores: Zagarola, Jean Paul A.; Anderson, Christopher Brian; Veteto, James R.
• Año de publicación: 2014
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Community-Based Ecosystem Management; Ecosystem Service; Environmental Values; Local Ecological Knowledge
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Research on human dimensions of ecosystems through the ecosystem services (ES) concept has proliferated over recent decades but has largely focused on monetary value of ecosystems while excluding other community-based values. We conducted 312 surveys of general community members and regional researchers and decision-makers (specialists) to understand local perceptions and values of watershed ES and natural resource management in South America’s southern Patagonian ecoregion. Results indicated that specialists shared many similar values of ES with community members, but at the same time their mentalities did not capture the diversity of values that existed within the broader community. The supporting services were most highly valued by both groups, but generally poorly understood by the community. Many services that are not easily captured in monetary terms, particularly cultural services, were highly valued by community members and specialists. Both groups perceived a lack of communication and access to basic scientific information in current management approaches and differed slightly in their perspective on potential threats to ES. We recommend that a community-based approach be integrated into the natural resource management framework that better embodies the diversity of values that exist in these communities, while enhancing the science-society dialog and thereby encouraging the application of multiple forms of ecological knowledge in place-based environmental management.
Fil: Zagarola, Jean Paul A.. University Of North Texas; Estados Unidos. Third Stream Consulting LLC; Estados Unidos
Fil: Anderson, Christopher Brian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; Argentina
Fil: Veteto, James R.. University Of North Texas; Estados Unidos. Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies; Estados Unidos. Botanical Research Institute of Texas; Estados Unidos