Bringing stakeholders together to articulate multiple value dimensions of ecosystem services

Abstract

Ecosystem services are embedded with multiple values. Capturing and integrating plural perspectives when conducting ecosystem services studies is a recognized need and yet a challenge. This paper proposes a participatory approach that fosters articulation of values allowing the integration of different value dimensions to inform decision-making processes, an important challenge that has been gaining traction in the field of ecosystem services research. Using participation as a value articulating institution, stakeholder groups of the Portuguese marine and coastal Arrábida Natural Park were engaged in a participatory process that included a collaborative workshop to articulate value dimensions expressed by ecological, economic and social criteria in two different contexts: the assessment of project alternatives for regulating access to beaches and recreational activities and a conflict related with allocation of coastal vineyard areas. Results demonstrate that the proposed deliberative process fostered changes in participants’ initial mental models and created new insights, namely by generating additional alternatives, expanding perceptions on affected ES, and helping the formalization of multiple evaluation criteria and decision rules, thus supporting decision-making in marine and coastal protected areas.