ABSTRACT. Although ecosystem services research has become common, few efforts are directed toward in-depth understanding of the specific ecological quantities people value. The theoretical framework of final ecosystem services focuses attention on such measurable attributes, as a common currency for social-ecological systems research. Environmental communications as well as ecological monitoring and analysis efforts could be enhanced through increased documentation of final ecosystem services. For example, small changes in the way ecosystems are described could strongly influence relevance to the public and improve the foundation for environmental decision making. Focusing on rivers and streams, we conducted a content analysis of existing publications to document the breadth and frequency with which various measurable attributes, such as flooding, water quality characteristics, and wildlife appeared in different news sources over a multiyear timeline. In addition to attributes, motivations for human interest in river-related resources were also coded, such as recreation or preservation for future generations. To allow testing of differences between materials written for different audiences, three sources were sampled: a blog hosted by National Geographic, New York Times articles, and Wall Street Journal articles. The coding approach was rigorously tested in a pilot phase, with measures developed to ensure high data quality, including use of two independent coders. Results show numerous similarities across sources with some notable differences in emphasis. Significant relationships between groups of attribute and motivation codes were also found, one outcome of which is further support for the importance of nonuse values for fish and wildlife. Besides offering insight on ecosystem services, the project demonstrates an in-depth quantitative approach to analyzing preexisting qualitative data.
Because climate change is advancing quickly, existing institutions are pressed to change their aims and to take up adaptation efforts. This study analyzes the strategies institutions are using to retreat and relocate people and activities from coastal hazards. A basic principle in adaptation and sustainability is to avoid displacing harms over time and space. This is difficult for an institution built to sustain intensive uses of the coast or to work within the borders of a municipality or state. We collected coastal projects around the world and analyzed how their moving strategies were structured to manage conditions over time and space. Two problems with institutions stood out. First, sponsoring institutions provided funding or organizing support for some sites, but many of their largest projects were emergency retreats done only after people suffered disasters. Second, most institutions sponsored retreat-only projects that left individuals, households, and small enterprises to handle relocation on their own. The lack of support for moving across space also applies to people who organized their own retreats and relocations. In sorting moving strategies by type, we found three strategic purposes: to avoid harming the site after retreat, to avoid harming people who retreat, or to avoid harming the relocation sites (including harms to people already living or working there, harms to people who relocate there, and harms to a site’s environment). Moving strategies were structured to meet one or two of these strategic purposes, but none attempted all three. Moving may seem the safest approach for adapting to coastal hazards. But organizers should acknowledge whether a moving project will manage adaptation over time and across space and name the tasks they won’t manage.
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