Unveiling nature's worth: Embracing social valuation in ecosystem services assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14719/tcb.5041Abstract
The concept of ecosystem services (ES), which highlights the direct and indirect benefits ecosystems provide to human well-being, has gained prominence in science and policy over the last few decades. This opinion article emphasizes the importance of social valuation in ES assessment, particularly in developing countries where communities rely heavily on natural resources. While economic valuation dominates ES assessments due to its ease in communication with policymakers and business sectors, it often overlooks non-monetary values such as cultural, spiritual and ethical dimensions. Social valuation captures these broader values, fostering community engagement and recognizing diverse perspectives. By integrating social values into ES assessments, decision-making becomes more equitable and inclusive, promoting sustainable management practices that align environmental conservation with socioeconomic development. This article advocates for the widespread adoption of social valuation to enhance the understanding of human-nature relationships and improve policy outcomes for sustainable resource management.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Harish Bahadur Chand, Sanjay Singh, Abhishek Kumar, Anil Kumar Kewat, Sushant Sharma, Aman Prabhakar
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