Abstract
This paper aims to map the ecosystem services (ES) provided by a reputed agropastoral ecosystem in the south of Albania and ascertain whether social capital affects the level of importance attributed to them. A perception analysis of both buyers and sellers of ES within the pastoral ecosystem is undertaken. The pastoral ecosystem is mainly evaluated for cultural services such as tradition, enhancing the area’s image, and environment ES. The strong inclination towards cultural ES and socioeconomic services indicates a lack of awareness of both buyers and sellers of ES in the local community regarding the environmental aspects of their ecosystem. However, participants showing a higher radius of trust with high linking social capital are more likely to confer very high importance to environmental services. Similarly, the cultural ES (traditional aspect) of the pastoral ecosystem is affected by cognitive and structural social capital. These are interesting findings for public policymaking concerning the opportunity to develop market transaction ES. Its development is more ground-based and effective if participation and civic engagement, especially the Linking dimension, is enhanced in the pastoral community.
Highlights
In developing countries, pastoralists are persistently left out of rural development programmes even though the rangelands produce several tangible and no intangible Ecosystem Services (ES)
An analysis of the open interviews on the ES provided by pastoral ecosystem stakeholders show contradictory results. 50% of respondents noted that pastoral activity is responsible for deforestation and air pollution
The other 50% representing the business sector and pastoralists, claim that pastoral activity is responsible for fire prevention, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration. 80% consider the following to be very important: pastoral activities support the continuity of the tradition in the area, safeguard the reputation of the area, generate income, influences tourism development, and furnish high value-added products in the market compared to other extensive agriculture products; further, it increases employment in the area
Summary
Pastoralists are persistently left out of rural development programmes even though the rangelands produce several tangible and no intangible Ecosystem Services (ES). This is mainly the result of a weak social fabric identifying, valorising, and introducing the ES in development strategies (Milder et al, 2010). Several studies indicate that PES could provide significant livelihood benefits to poor people at the household or community level, whether in the form of cash payments or non-cash benefits such as enabling the transition to more profitable and resilient land-use systems, establishing secure land tenure or strengthening social capital and support local institutions (Amézquita et al, 2004; Antle & Diagana, 2003; Antle & Stoorvogel, 2008; Dumont et al, 2019; Graff-Zivin & Lipper, 2008; Milder et al, 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
