The role of traditional ecological knowledge and ecosystem quality in managing ecosystem services

Ecosystem services management is not merely a scientific or economic approach, but rather a participatory and indigenous-based approach that, by integrating ecological assessments and indigenous knowledge, contributes to the sustainable and effective utilization of ecosystem services and reduces the gap between theory and practice.this study aimed to spatially link ecosystem services, traditional ecological knowledge, and ecosystem quality for optimal ecosystem services management, based on indigenous communities' preferences and ecological capacities. Eleven ecosystem services (aesthetics, nursing function, beekeeping, education, soil stability, gas control, soil stability, soil retention, medicinal plants, recreation, and water yield) were modeled in an Iranian semiarid socio-ecosystem. Field data collection, the InVEST model, and GIS technique were used to sample, map and integrate traditional ecological information and habitat quality. Additionally, a suite of direct and indirect relationships between social-ecological variables and ecosystem services were assessed using Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that land covers varied in their capacity to significantly deliver social-ecological quality and ecosystem services (p < 0.05). Also, cultural, provisioning, regulatory, and supporting services showed a high synergy with social-ecological quality, suggesting that social-ecological quality can be an effective proxy for ecosystem services, particularly cultural services. Results show that the most significant component influencing cultural and provisioning services was traditional ecological knowledge, while the most significant factor influencing supporting and regulating services was habitat quality. This study presented a comprehensive model for ecosystem services management which is integrated with traditional ecological knowledge of local communities to provide realistic and feasible solutions for sustainable exploitation of natural resources.