Human-nature interactions and the coproduction of ecosystem services

Transcription

1 Human-nature interactions and the coproduction of ecosystem services Anke Fischer Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group James Hutton Institute

2 Conserving biodiversity, and sustainably managing our environment, needs an understanding of how people interact with the environment to produce the benefits that they receive

3 but how do we get a better understanding of human-environment interactions and how these result in benefits (or not)? Photo: Carol Kyle

4 Structure 1. Theoretical perspectives: human-nature interactions 2. A co-production lens: ecosystem services Different types of co-production Diversity: identities and capabilities 3. Discussion

5 Theoretical perspectives Nature constructed Social representations (Buijs) Knowledges (Wynne, Castree) Attitudes, values and value orientations, connectedness with nature (Manfredo & Teel, Mayer & Frantz) Images of nature (Buijs) Human-nature relationships (Van den Born) Implications for behaviour Nature enacted Social practices (Shove) Cultural practices, identity and resistance (Skogen, Krange, Enticott) Embodied and performed natures (Ingold, Brown) Discourses (Hajer, Arts, Svarstad)

6 The production of ecosystem services Ecosystem services: supplied, provided, received Who or what provides/supplies? Black box?

7 Where ecological and social systems meet? Maes et al., 2012, Ecosystem Services

8 Palomo et al., 2016, Adv Ecol Res

9 Co-production at different stages of the cascade Structures (biophysical infrastructure) e.g., a woodland (Ecological) Processes Functions (capacity of system to provide a service) e.g., tree growth Services (flows of benefits) e.g., provision of woodfuel as a result of selection and harvest of suitable wood Benefits (something of value to people) e.g., woodfuel e.g., photosynthesis Fischer & Eastwood, 2016, Land Use Policy

10 Different aspects of co-production Production of things meaning Foraging: but it s much more about having a deeper understanding of the Woodfuel: environment that you find yourself People love the idea of in. So you can be walking through knowing that it is from woods and just sort of glance here, and that it is good around and not notice a great deal, quality, and also people that it and then when you forage you re is helping us manage the suddenly focusing on all kinds of woodland. plants and interactions between plants and things that are taking place in the same area that you have walked through many, many Interactions between people and times. ecosystem Fischer & Eastwood, 2016, Land Use Policy

11 Different aspects of co-production Coppicing: Production of The I think last time it s quite we went a communal they found act. this It s, great you know, massive you piece are of using wood, these and trees they with called other him people. stick man, It s a and very he kind spent of the I think day with as an us activity and it was itself almost it is very as things life big affirming as the children and positive. and they carried it between them. They made a little space for him but they all carried him and nobody complained. They wrote stick man in pine cones for his name. It was just brilliant. meaning Just seeing them doing it together. Interactions between people people and ecosystem Fischer & Eastwood, 2016, Land Use Policy

12 n=47, coded from loosely structured interviews Fischer & Eastwood, forth.

13 n=47, coded from loosely structured interviews Fischer & Eastwood, forth.

14 Diversity What influences how people engage in co-production of ecosystem services? Identities: what is meaningful and important to a person, what they see themselves to be Capabilities: what a person feels they have the freedom and opportunity to choose to do (Nussbaum 2011, Polishchuk & Rauschmayer 2012) Photo: Carol Kyle

15 Fischer & Eastwood, 2016, Land Use Policy

16 Identities Self-image I love botany. I belong to a Wildflower Society. I am not very good at birds. I tend to walk with my eyes down looking at the plants. And I had a husband who did birds and he would find all these birds, and I would sort of, I could never get the glasses on at the right time. Photo: Carol Kyle

17 Fischer & Eastwood, 2016, Land Use Policy

18 Capabilities Confidence Because most people won t venture out, certainly in the dark they wouldn t venture out. And just they don t have the confidence as well and very often just having somebody there even like on a day birdwatching or whatever having somebody with the knowledge there to guide them. Photo: Carol Kyle

19 Discussion Co-production lens Highlights interactions between people and their environment and people s active role in ecosystem services production Highlights diversity of interactions Factors related to identities and capabilities diversity Other studies on human-nature interactions: Ethnic and cultural background (Buijs et al. 2009; Kloek 2015) Gender (Currie et al. 2016) Class (Krange and Skogen 2007) Values and value orientations

20 Discussion Production of ecosystem services depends on involvement of people with suitable identities and capabilities Ecosystem structures benefits Implications for valuation Environmental justice?

21 Conserving biodiversity, and sustainably managing our environment, needs an understanding of how people interact with the environment to produce the benefits that they receive

22 Thank you: Co-author Antonia Eastwood All study This work was supported by the Scottish Government s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).