Perceiving Patagonia An Assessment of Social Valu

Authors: JeanPaul A Zagarola Christopher B Anderson James R Veteto

Publish Date: 2014/01/30

Volume: 53, Issue: 4, Pages: 769-782

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Abstract

Research on human dimensions of ecosystems through the ecosystem services ES concept has proliferated over recent decades but has largely focused on monetary value of ecosystems while excluding other communitybased values We conducted 312 surveys of general community members and regional researchers and decisionmakers specialists to understand local perceptions and values of watershed ES and natural resource management in South America’s southern Patagonian ecoregion Results indicated that specialists shared many similar values of ES with community members but at the same time their mentalities did not capture the diversity of values that existed within the broader community The supporting services were most highly valued by both groups but generally poorly understood by the community Many services that are not easily captured in monetary terms particularly cultural services were highly valued by community members and specialists Both groups perceived a lack of communication and access to basic scientific information in current management approaches and differed slightly in their perspective on potential threats to ES We recommend that a communitybased approach be integrated into the natural resource management framework that better embodies the diversity of values that exist in these communities while enhancing the sciencesociety dialog and thereby encouraging the application of multiple forms of ecological knowledge in placebased environmental managementThis research was supported financially by the National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students Grant OISE 0854350 and a US Student Fulbright Scholarship Crucial local logistical support in Argentina was provided by Drs G Martínez Pastur M V Lencinas A E J Valenzuela at the Austral Center for Scientific Research CADICCONICET and in Chile by the Omora SubAntarctic Research Alliance wwwosaraorg OSARA and by Dr R Reyes R Molina and C Celis In addition research in Argentina was authorized by the provincial science and technology council and OSARA facilitated the collaboration between Chile Argentina and the US The authors thank the many individuals who also aided in the development or support of this research which included but are not limited to M Santibañez N Vega J L Cabello V Bazan Y Medina J Ojeda C Carvajal P Duartes and L Brandon Finally the authors especially thank the community survey participants and numerous specialist survey participants from federal regional and municipal academic and governmental institutions

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