Author: Precious Mayeso Mkukumira
Mkukumira, Precious Mayeso, 2024 An Investigation into the Methods Used to Measure Cultural Ecosystem Services Associated with Coastal Wetlands, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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Coastal wetlands are among the most threatened and stressed natural ecosystems in the world despite providing various benefits to humans. Culture can play an important role in protecting wetlands from loss if it is well represented in the assessment of ecosystem services (ES). ES, which are defined as benefits people obtain from ecosystem, are classified into provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services. Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) are services that nature provides to support a range of life-enriching and life-affirming benefits to humans. The CES concept provides a cultural dimension of ES. Unlike other ES, CES are difficult to measure because of their non-material and intangible attributes and their valuation is subjective as it depends on one’s perception and experience. Close linkages among CES categories further complicates CES valuation as it may result in double-counting. Consequently, the value of CES is not well captured in the assessment of ecosystem services. This study aims at understanding how culture is measured by investigating and analyzing methods used to measure CES. A systematic literature review was used to collect information on CES valuation. After searching and screening relevant articles, a total of 31 research articles were identified as the most relevant to this study. The review identified 9 valuation methods that were used to measure 10 categories of CES. The results of the review showed that non-monetary methods, especially survey questionnaires, were the commonly used valuation methods. It was also observed that recreational services and aesthetic values were the most frequently researched CES categories. However, CES represent a package of all cultural services that are dependent on each other. Therefore, to adequately represent CES in ES assessment, it was recommended that CES should be measured as a bundle of services not just one or two CES. Additionally, combining monetary and non-monetary methods may potentially capture a more accurate value of CES.
Keywords: Coastal wetlands, ecosystem services, cultural ecosystem services, monetary methods, non-monetary methods
Subject: Environmental management thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2024
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Professor Beverly Clarke