These pages provide access to publications, reports, databases, organisations, discussion groups, case studies and guidelines on
the cultural importance of ecosystemservices and landscapes.
Content:
Important Links:
Cultural Importance
The cultural importance of ecosystem services becomes evident in the human-ecosystem relationship. It is the link between cultural and biological diversity that is not only made explicit through the working knowledge of how to harvest a resource for self-subsistence but extends to the spiritual, non-material benefits that are typically found in cultural world visions. It is important to realise the full value of ecosystems and landscapes through recognising the instric values of most ecosystem functions and their intimacy to human life.
Cultural Valuation Methods
Valuing the cultural importance of ecosystem services is a critical element in providing information to decision makers. In a global world, the cultural importance of ecosystem services is often outweighed by economical and even environmental valuation schemes. Absence of information on cultural services and difficulties of assessing, valuing and communicating information regarding cultural services leads to inequitable decision making.
These webpages aim to contribute towards creating acceptance, tolerance and respect for the different cultural values that enrich our planet so that they can be taken into account in the decision making processes. Through these pages NV&F seeks to gather information, experiences as well as bringing together people and organisations regarding alternative and appropriate valuation methods. Conventional valuation approaches at themselves are often not the key to sustainable, equitable trade-offs and truly integrated decision-making. The need exists to further enhance and implement methods such as group valuation, participatory resource appraisal and multi criteria analysis that may be used to elicit the importance of cultural values.
" ilink@
|
