Exploring Plural Values of Ecosystem Services: Local Peoples’ Perceptions and Implications for Protected Area Management in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Abstract

The remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil are significant for biodiversity and provide benefits for people (climate regulation, water supply, health and welfare, among others). However, nature’s importance for different people may vary, for social, environmental, and economic reasons. In this paper, we explore such differences among people living in communities surrounding the Cunhambebe State Park (PEC), a large area of Atlantic Forest. We assess their perceptions regarding the plural values of ecosystem services derived from the PEC and explore ways in which this could affect the management of this protected area. Our assumption is that analyzing the perceptions of people who live in the communities surrounding can be a key tool for the formulation of proposals to improve management models and address socio-environmental conflicts. Based on interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, our results show a direct link between culture and environment since relational values and cultural ecosystem services are closely related to local people’s valuation of the PEC. Therefore, we support management strategies which are based on local values for land and forest use in a sustainable way. Our findings may contribute to decision making by PEC managers, governments, local stakeholders, and researchers.

Managing State Parks in Brazil: Strategies for Resolving Conflicts and Promoting Sustainable Conservation Practices

“…This involves providing training and resources for park staff and local communities, empowering local communities to engage more effectively in decision-making processes and increasing their understanding of conservation issues [5,9]. Addressing underlying social and economic factors that contribute to conflicts requires collaboration with other sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and urban planning [11,12]. The strategies proposed in this opinion manuscript have important implications for the management of State Parks in Brazil and can serve as a model for other protected areas facing similar challenges [13].…”

As pesquisas no Parque Estadual Cunhambebe com destaque para a Educação Ambiental e o patrimônio histórico e cultural: resultados de uma revisão sistemática integrativa

“…A revisão sistemática é um tipo de investigação científica que tem o propósito de conciliar, avaliar e coordenar uma síntese de resultados de múltiplos estudos primários. Além disso, visa responder a uma pergunta, utilizando métodos sistemáticos para discernir, selecionar e avaliar pesquisas pertinentes, e posteriormente coletar e analisar dados dos estudos incluídos na revisão (CORDEIRO, 2007).…”

“…Os estudos versam sobre os valores dos serviços ecossistêmicos e sua contribuição para uma gestão baseada em valores locais. Além disso, retratam a influência dos pagamentos por serviços ambientais como instrumento para a conservação (COELHO JUNIOR et al, 2021;GONZAGA, 2016).…”

Plural valuation in southwestern Ethiopia: Disaggregating values associated with ecosystems in a smallholder landscape

“…During assessments of ES, relevant insights are often lost when aggregating data across groups of people (Arias‐Arévalo et al., 2018; Spangenberg & Settele, 2010). Among others, the relative importance of ES can differ between women and men (Coelho‐Junior et al., 2021; Lau et al., 2019), wealth groups (Lau et al., 2018; Tadesse et al., 2014), urban and rural populations (Arias‐Arévalo et al., 2017; Lapointe et al., 2020) and between different types of occupation (Brooks et al., 2014; Horcea‐Milcu et al., 2016). The relative importance of ES to people's livelihoods can also be shaped by their social–ecological context, for example, by people's main livelihood or productive activities, or their local surroundings (Reyes‐Arroyo et al., 2021; Tauro et al., 2018).…”