Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany)
ABSTRACTBalancing the demand for ecosystem services (ES) with available supply is one key challenge for decision making in sustainable landscape management. ES demand is context-specific. Therefore, the assessment of perceptions articulated by multiple societal actors in different regions can help t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosystems and People |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2023.2192813 |
| _version_ | 1797385477537398784 |
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| author | Lisa Küchen Thomas M. Schmitt Rebekka Riebl Maria Hänsel Manuel J. Steinbauer Ute Fricke Sarah Redlich Thomas Koellner |
| author_facet | Lisa Küchen Thomas M. Schmitt Rebekka Riebl Maria Hänsel Manuel J. Steinbauer Ute Fricke Sarah Redlich Thomas Koellner |
| author_sort | Lisa Küchen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTBalancing the demand for ecosystem services (ES) with available supply is one key challenge for decision making in sustainable landscape management. ES demand is context-specific. Therefore, the assessment of perceptions articulated by multiple societal actors in different regions can help to identify differences and commonalities in predominant preferences for landscapes and their ES. The goal of this study was to investigate four societal actor groups (citizens, farmers, foresters, nature managers) in 12 study regions across Bavaria, Germany, with respect to their valuation of landscapes and ES provided by certain landscape elements. The 2,438 participants mapped specific locations and selected landscape elements that they perceived as valuable, and further elaborated on this value in open statements. We applied qualitative content analysis, word frequency analysis, spatial location-density analysis, and statistical testing. The perceived value of landscape elements for ES differed across actor groups and regions. Preference for landscape elements was driven by topography and land use and was significantly associated with actor groups. The most apparent differences occurred between farmers and nature managers. Generally, participants preferred forests, water bodies, natural landscapes, and distinct geographical structures. The landscape was mostly valued for its habitat, diverse wildlife, recreational purposes, climate-regulating functions, and provisioning of water and food. We conclude that, although differences exist among societal actors, the study respondents highly valued the importance of functioning and diverse ecosystems. The high perceived value for many ecosystem services and species protection suggests that ambitious policy measures are supported by different societal actors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:54:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26cdd95988714d6289bf95a26e08290c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2639-5908 2639-5916 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:54:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosystems and People |
| spelling | doaj.art-26cdd95988714d6289bf95a26e08290c2023-12-20T00:08:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEcosystems and People2639-59082639-59162023-12-0119110.1080/26395916.2023.2192813Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany)Lisa Küchen0Thomas M. Schmitt1Rebekka Riebl2Maria Hänsel3Manuel J. Steinbauer4Ute Fricke5Sarah Redlich6Thomas Koellner7Ecological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyEcological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyEcological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyEcological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanySports Ecology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) & Bayreuth Center of Sport Science (BaySpo), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, GermanyDepartment of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, GermanyEcological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, GermanyABSTRACTBalancing the demand for ecosystem services (ES) with available supply is one key challenge for decision making in sustainable landscape management. ES demand is context-specific. Therefore, the assessment of perceptions articulated by multiple societal actors in different regions can help to identify differences and commonalities in predominant preferences for landscapes and their ES. The goal of this study was to investigate four societal actor groups (citizens, farmers, foresters, nature managers) in 12 study regions across Bavaria, Germany, with respect to their valuation of landscapes and ES provided by certain landscape elements. The 2,438 participants mapped specific locations and selected landscape elements that they perceived as valuable, and further elaborated on this value in open statements. We applied qualitative content analysis, word frequency analysis, spatial location-density analysis, and statistical testing. The perceived value of landscape elements for ES differed across actor groups and regions. Preference for landscape elements was driven by topography and land use and was significantly associated with actor groups. The most apparent differences occurred between farmers and nature managers. Generally, participants preferred forests, water bodies, natural landscapes, and distinct geographical structures. The landscape was mostly valued for its habitat, diverse wildlife, recreational purposes, climate-regulating functions, and provisioning of water and food. We conclude that, although differences exist among societal actors, the study respondents highly valued the importance of functioning and diverse ecosystems. The high perceived value for many ecosystem services and species protection suggests that ambitious policy measures are supported by different societal actors.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2023.2192813Cristina Quintas-SorianoSocio-cultural valuationperceptions of valuesocietal actorsqualitative content analysisland-use |
| spellingShingle | Lisa Küchen Thomas M. Schmitt Rebekka Riebl Maria Hänsel Manuel J. Steinbauer Ute Fricke Sarah Redlich Thomas Koellner Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) Ecosystems and People Cristina Quintas-Soriano Socio-cultural valuation perceptions of value societal actors qualitative content analysis land-use |
| title | Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) |
| title_full | Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) |
| title_fullStr | Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) |
| title_short | Where and why is landscape considered valuable? Societal actors’ perceptions of ecosystem services across Bavaria (Germany) |
| title_sort | where and why is landscape considered valuable societal actors perceptions of ecosystem services across bavaria germany |
| topic | Cristina Quintas-Soriano Socio-cultural valuation perceptions of value societal actors qualitative content analysis land-use |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2023.2192813 |
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