Evidence of a shared value for nature

Ecological Economics
2018
Wainger, Lisa A.; Helcoski, Ryan; Farge, Kevin W.; Espinola, Brandy A.; Green, Gary T.
PublisherElsevier
Source N/A
Volume / Issue154
Pages107-116
Total Pages10 pages
Article Link
ISBN N/A
DOIdoi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.07.025
Editor(s) N/A
Conference / Book Title N/A
Flag N/A
Tagsnonuse value; passive use value; ecosystem services; socio-demographic variability; social media
Other N/A
Conference Title N/A
Conference Date N/A
Publication DateJuly 31, 2018
Article Date N/A
GS Citation N/A
AbstractEcosystem service analysis aims to expand the accounting of human values for nature, yet frequently ignores or obfuscates a category of human values with potentially large magnitude, namely nonuse or passive use values. These values represent the satisfaction derived from the protection or restoration of species, habitats and wilderness areas, even if people never use them in any tangible way. The shunting of nonuse values to the background of ecosystem service analysis appears, in part, to be an attempt to avoid the perceived elitism of environmental values. To examine whether such values are the purview of the elite, we explore three types of evidence of who holds nonuse values. We find that when people are asked to 1) commit money via stated preference instruments, 2) respond to tweets, or 3) express opinions via surveys they demonstrate a significant willingness to protect and restore natural resources, regardless of their own use of those resources. Such values are represented in all socio-demographic groups that encompass race, ethnicity, immigration status, income, political affiliation, geographic location, age or gender, although the magnitude can vary among groups. The implications are that omitting nonuse values in ecosystem service analysis will tend to underestimate values, particularly for remote sites with limited use, and fail to represent important tradeoffs.
Created: 8/29/2018 10:38 AM (ET)
Modified: 8/29/2018 10:39 AM (ET)
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