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Perceptions of the ecosystem services concept: Opportunities and challenges in the Swedish municipal context

Beery, Thomas ; Stålhammar, Sanna LU ; Jönsson, K. Ingemar ; Wamsler, Christine LU ; Bramryd, Torleif LU ; Brink, Ebba LU ; Ekelund, Nils ; Johansson, Michael LU orcid ; Palo, Thomas and Schubert, Per LU (2016) In Ecosystem Services 17. p.123-130
Abstract
A current focus of ecosystem services (ES) implementation is on the municipal level of government where international and national legislation and policies have to be translated into practice. Given this focus, an understanding of perceptions within municipalities of the ES concept is crucial to support the implementation process. Against this background, this paper examines the perceptions of Swedish municipal stakeholders for the ES concept. A 2013 Swedish federal mandate that states that the values of ecosystem services should be considered in relevant decision-making processes, provides a timely context. Current perceptions, preconditions and awareness are explored via interviews and analyses. The results show that the views on the... (More)
A current focus of ecosystem services (ES) implementation is on the municipal level of government where international and national legislation and policies have to be translated into practice. Given this focus, an understanding of perceptions within municipalities of the ES concept is crucial to support the implementation process. Against this background, this paper examines the perceptions of Swedish municipal stakeholders for the ES concept. A 2013 Swedish federal mandate that states that the values of ecosystem services should be considered in relevant decision-making processes, provides a timely context. Current perceptions, preconditions and awareness are explored via interviews and analyses. The results show that the views on the ecosystem services concept and its usefulness are generally very positive. Conceptual knowledge use is perceived as important as is the recognition of monetary valuation of ES. However, clarification of the distinction between implicit and explicit use of the concept by stakeholders is needed. Finally, results indicate that a deeper understanding of monetary valuation of ecosystem services by municipal staff members is connected with a more critical view on monetary valuation. It is concluded that detailed and clear definitions and guidelines are needed in order to support the process of implementing ES in municipalities. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Anthropocentrism, ecosystem services, Ecosystem services concept, Knowledge use, Monetary valuation, Municipal decision-making, Values of nature
in
Ecosystem Services
volume
17
pages
8 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84952046810
  • wos:000370641300015
ISSN
2212-0416
DOI
10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.12.002
project
Urban ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f9305cfa-013f-478c-bb2c-b5dcb505497e
date added to LUP
2016-05-11 14:52:05
date last changed
2022-12-21 18:43:00
@article{f9305cfa-013f-478c-bb2c-b5dcb505497e,
  abstract     = {{A current focus of ecosystem services (ES) implementation is on the municipal level of government where international and national legislation and policies have to be translated into practice. Given this focus, an understanding of perceptions within municipalities of the ES concept is crucial to support the implementation process. Against this background, this paper examines the perceptions of Swedish municipal stakeholders for the ES concept. A 2013 Swedish federal mandate that states that the values of ecosystem services should be considered in relevant decision-making processes, provides a timely context. Current perceptions, preconditions and awareness are explored via interviews and analyses. The results show that the views on the ecosystem services concept and its usefulness are generally very positive. Conceptual knowledge use is perceived as important as is the recognition of monetary valuation of ES. However, clarification of the distinction between implicit and explicit use of the concept by stakeholders is needed. Finally, results indicate that a deeper understanding of monetary valuation of ecosystem services by municipal staff members is connected with a more critical view on monetary valuation. It is concluded that detailed and clear definitions and guidelines are needed in order to support the process of implementing ES in municipalities.}},
  author       = {{Beery, Thomas and Stålhammar, Sanna and Jönsson, K. Ingemar and Wamsler, Christine and Bramryd, Torleif and Brink, Ebba and Ekelund, Nils and Johansson, Michael and Palo, Thomas and Schubert, Per}},
  issn         = {{2212-0416}},
  keywords     = {{Anthropocentrism; ecosystem services; Ecosystem services concept; Knowledge use; Monetary valuation; Municipal decision-making; Values of nature}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{123--130}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Ecosystem Services}},
  title        = {{Perceptions of the ecosystem services concept: Opportunities and challenges in the Swedish municipal context}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/7644639/Beery_etal_PerceptionsoftheEcosystemServiceConcept_EcosystemServices.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.12.002}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}