Using stakeholders' preference for ecosystems and ecosystem services as an economic basis underlying strategic...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Conservation Biology
• Ecosystem Management

Background:

• Ecosystem services (ES) are vital for human well-being, but urban and industrial land-use changes threaten their provision.
• Sustainable development necessitates conservation programs balancing stakeholder well-being with ecosystem integrity.
• Understanding stakeholder preferences is critical for effective conservation strategy implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify South Carolina residents' priorities for ecosystem and ecosystem service conservation.
• To inform conservation program strategies and land-use planning through stakeholder preference analysis.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted to elicit preferences from South Carolina residents.
• Analysis focused on prioritizing target ecosystems and specific ecosystem services.

Main Results:

• Water quality regulation was identified as the top priority ecosystem service.
• Forest ecosystems were the most preferred for conservation, especially among younger, high-income residents in the midland and upstate regions.
• Preferences for water quality regulation did not diminish the perceived importance of continuous water supply.

Conclusions:

• Resident preferences provide valuable data for enhancing state water plans and land-use policies.
• Integrating stakeholder preferences into conservation planning can improve landscape sustainability.
• Prioritizing forest ecosystems is linked to their significant contribution to water-related ecosystem services.