Why nature matters: A systematic review of intrinsic, instrumental, and relational values

Abstract

In this article, we present results from a literature review of intrinsic, instrumental, and relational values of nature conducted for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, as part of the Methodological Assessment of the Diverse Values and Valuations of Nature. We identify the most frequently recurring meanings in the heterogeneous use of different value types and their association with worldviews and other key concepts. From frequent uses, we determine a core meaning for each value type, which is sufficiently inclusive to serve as an umbrella over different understandings in the literature and specific enough to help highlight its difference from the other types of values. Finally, we discuss convergences, overlapping areas, and fuzzy boundaries between different value types to facilitate dialogue, reduce misunderstandings, and improve the methods for valuation of nature's contributions to people, including ecosystem services, to inform policy and direct future research.

Building on Spash's critiques of monetary valuation to suggest ways forward for relational values research

“…Although we do not desire a single theory, we think thestill rather heterogeneousfield of RV research would benefit from more thorough conceptual systematisation. Systematisation would require not only explicitly articulating differences and identifying commonalities across scholarship traditions (both conceptually and methodologically; Himes et al, 2023) but also engaging critically with evidence that challenges (or possibly falsifies) concepts or theories. Since RV researchers are often motivated to help move towards transformative change, we need to build a shared evidence base and cumulative conceptual repertoire that RV practitioners and advocates can draw upon in their situated struggles for environmental justice across the globe.…”

“…We want RV evidence and the insights generated from the field to be additive and cumulative, so that they can acquire force in policy and environmental politics. To foster coherence in a polyphony, RV scholars should explicitly locate concepts they use within families of similar concepts (especially within the RV literature) (Himes et al, 2023) and explain how any newly introduced concepts differ in specific and operational terms. This could include, for example, using existing definitions or clearly identifying why a definition should be modified.…”

“…In the mid-2010s, RV gained wider prominence largely in association with their uptake in the IPBES conceptual framework (Díaz et al, 2015;Chan et al, 2016Chan et al, , 2018Pascual et al, 2017). Although there is still a wide debate about how to conceptualise and apply RV, scholars have suggested identifying their meaning through a few core characteristics (Deplazes-Zemp and Gould et al, 2023;Himes et al, 2023; see Table 1).…”

“…To honour Spash's (and others', e.g., Jacobs et al, 2020) calls for the importance of reflexivity in values research, we first situate ourselves in the field. Most of us (PA, MC, RG, AH, DL, BM, MT) have been involved in scholarship about relational values, that is, the preferences, principles and virtues associated with meaningful human relationships with nature (Chan et al, 2016;Himes et al, 2023). In collaboration with others, we have developed synthetic perspectives on the field (Muraca, 2011(Muraca, , 2016Chan et al, 2016Chan et al, , 2018Arias-Arévalo et al, 2017;Tadaki et al, 2017;Himes and Muraca, 2018;Chapman and Deplazes-Zemp, 2023;Himes et al, 2023;Raymond et al 2023).…”

Incorporating diverse values of nature in decision-making—theory and practice

“…Following the Values Assessment, we refer to nature's values as both broad values (guiding principles and life goals such as care for nature, equity and justice) and specific values ( judgements regarding the importance of nature in particular situations) [8]. Specific values may be distinguished as instrumental (nature as a substitutable means to human well-being), relational (nature as a basis for meaningful relationships) and intrinsic (nature as having value in-and-of itself ) [1,[8][9][10].…”