Examining ecosystem services and disservices through deliberative socio-cultural valuation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Social Science
• Urban Ecology
• Participatory Valuation

Background:

• The socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (EDS) remains understudied, particularly regarding participatory methods' ability to shape shared values and influence decision-making.
• Existing research has limited understanding of how deliberative approaches can uncover and foster collective values for urban green spaces.
• This study addresses the gap by examining the deliberative socio-cultural valuation of ES and EDS in a specific urban park setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how diverse stakeholders value the ecosystem services and disservices of Jose Rizal Plaza in Calamba City, The Philippines.
• To investigate how these socio-cultural values change under different valuation scenarios and discussions.
• To explore the potential of deliberative methods in revealing and forming shared values for urban park management.

Main Methods:

• Employed online focus groups for deliberative socio-cultural valuation of ES and EDS.
• Conducted six valuation exercises, systematically varying the source and constituency of participants and introducing discussions.
• Utilized a point distribution method for participants to assign importance to ES and concern to EDS.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in ES and EDS values were observed across different valuation exercises.
• Varying participant groups and discussion contexts effectively revealed shared values among stakeholders.
• High shared appreciation for enjoyment, recreation, social relationships, and cultural heritage was identified.
• A significant shared concern was identified regarding the risk of anti-social behavior within the park.

Conclusions:

• Deliberative socio-cultural valuation is a promising approach for understanding urban ecosystem service values.
• Shared values for recreation and heritage, alongside concerns for safety, should guide park management decisions.
• Further research across diverse urban parks and cities is recommended to validate these findings and refine the methodology.