To protect nature's benefits, focus on people
Date:
October 12, 2020
Source:
Stanford University - Natural Capital Project
Summary:
New paper calls for the consideration of people's diverse needs in
order to develop effective nature-based policies and investments
in ecosystems.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
To calculate the true value of a forest, we need to know how people
benefit from it, according to new research published in Nature
Sustainability. A healthy forest holds a treasure trove of benefits for
people -- it can filter water for downstream communities, supply timber
for building, and provide a place for people to connect with nature. But
a forest -- or any other ecosystem -- won't necessarily provide the same
things to everyone.
========================================================================== "Context matters," says Lisa Mandle, lead scientist at the Stanford
Natural Capital Project and lead author on the paper. "If we want to
protect the critical natural assets we all depend on, we need actionable policies that incorporate people's diverse needs. It shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach when we're talking about people and nature."
There's a growing global movement to invest in nature in order to
protect vital resources and improve climate resilience. But for nature
to be factored into policies, sustainable development plans, and other management decisions, the researchers say the science behind them needs
to be more inclusive and people- centric.
They also say a focus on equity is crucial. People benefit from nature
in different ways -- a forest might provide valuable timber for one
group while providing deep cultural significance for another. When all
the individuals or groups receiving those benefits aren't considered,
the people who depend on nature the most can be left behind.
"If you don't know who specifically would benefit from which ecosystems,
how can you prioritize where and how to conserve?" said Taylor Ricketts, director of University of Vermont's Gund Institute for Environment and co-author on the paper. "We want to make sure the benefits of ecosystems
are shared equitably, so that we don't make existing racial and social inequality even worse." Nature-based solutions can create triple-win
scenarios for economies, ecosystems, and people. From securing local
water supplies to informing coastal development plans, understanding
the values that nature provides to people can be a powerful tool for decision-makers. But too often, the research doesn't pay enough attention
to the people part.
"People need to see themselves -- their values and needs -- supported
in conservation efforts. Often, research will try to assign an overall
dollar value to nature without thinking about who will benefitting
from it. That's like saying you have $50 of food in your pantry, but
you don't know what kind of food it is or who will be eating. You can't
plan your meal without knowing what you have and what your diners need,"
said Mandle.
The researchers recommend actions for their own scientific community that
focus on building understanding around who is benefitting from nature in
the communities they're hoping to serve. They emphasize direct engagement
with people, so that science and policy can be better equipped to meet
societal needs, increase equity, and protect vital resources.
"This is a call for us all to do a better job. We can better deliver
the information needed to move towards a more sustainable and equitable future," said Mandle. "And that's what we're all working toward."
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Stanford_University_-_Natural_Capital_Project. Original written by Sarah Cafasso. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lisa Mandle, Analisa Shields-Estrada, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer,
Matthew G.
E. Mitchell, Leah L. Bremer, Jesse D. Gourevitch, Peter Hawthorne,
Justin A. Johnson, Brian E. Robinson, Jeffrey R. Smith, Laura
J. Sonter, Gregory M. Verutes, Adrian L. Vogl, Gretchen C. Daily &
Taylor H. Ricketts.
Increasing decision relevance of ecosystem service science. Nature
Sustainability, 2020 DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00625-y ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201012120002.htm
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