Publications (FIS)

The ecosystem services concept

a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?

authored by: Marcin Spyra, Janina Kleemann, Nuket Ipek Cetin, Cesar Jesús Vázquez Navarrete, Christian Albert, Igone Palacios-Agundez, Ibone Ametzaga-Arregi, Daniele La Rosa, Daniel Rozas-Vásquez, Blal Adem Esmail, Paolo Picchi, Davide Geneletti, Hannes J. König, Hong Mi Koo, Leena Kopperoinen, Christine Fürst
Abstract: Context: Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of empirical cases to identify the implications of using ecosystem services in participatory planning. Objectives: This study explores the potential of the ecosystem services concept to act as a boundary concept (“new Esperanto”) to facilitate the integration of actors’ perceptions and objectives into planning goals. Methods: We analyzed eleven case studies to explore how the ecosystem services concept has been operationalized to support participatory planning processes, and to identify lessons from successful applications. We characterized the case studies according to contextual and methodological criteria. Each case study was assessed through a codified score card method in order to detect success or failure criteria in using the ecosystem services concept in participatory planning. We compared the case study criteria with the results of the balanced score card method. Results: We identified several positive effects of applying the ecosystem services concept in participatory planning, including the facilitation of knowledge sharing and consideration of local experiences, the support towards a shared vision, and the increased awareness among local actors concerning their role as ecosystem services suppliers or beneficiaries. Among the drawbacks, we identified the risk of overemphasizing specific ecosystem goods or services during the process. Conclusions: We conclude by providing some recommendations to enhance future practice related to issues such as communication, use of local knowledge and integration of ecosystem services in existing legal instruments.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Opole University of Technology
University of Bonn
Gebze Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
Colegio de Postgraduados (CP)
University of the Basque Country
University of Catania
Universidad Católica de Temuco (UCT)
University of Trento
University of Amsterdam
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
Type: Article
Journal: Landscape Ecology
Volume: 34
Pages: 1715-1735
No. of pages: 21
ISSN: 0921-2973
Publication date: 01.07.2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Geography, Planning and Development, Ecology, Nature and Landscape Conservation
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-018-0745-6 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{ed03b261b68c4b87bb4f7def27927318,
title = "The ecosystem services concept: a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?",
abstract = "Context: Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of empirical cases to identify the implications of using ecosystem services in participatory planning. Objectives: This study explores the potential of the ecosystem services concept to act as a boundary concept (“new Esperanto”) to facilitate the integration of actors{\textquoteright} perceptions and objectives into planning goals. Methods: We analyzed eleven case studies to explore how the ecosystem services concept has been operationalized to support participatory planning processes, and to identify lessons from successful applications. We characterized the case studies according to contextual and methodological criteria. Each case study was assessed through a codified score card method in order to detect success or failure criteria in using the ecosystem services concept in participatory planning. We compared the case study criteria with the results of the balanced score card method. Results: We identified several positive effects of applying the ecosystem services concept in participatory planning, including the facilitation of knowledge sharing and consideration of local experiences, the support towards a shared vision, and the increased awareness among local actors concerning their role as ecosystem services suppliers or beneficiaries. Among the drawbacks, we identified the risk of overemphasizing specific ecosystem goods or services during the process. Conclusions: We conclude by providing some recommendations to enhance future practice related to issues such as communication, use of local knowledge and integration of ecosystem services in existing legal instruments.",
keywords = "Case studies, Comparative analysis, Ecosystem services, Landscape planning, Participatory planning, Stakeholders",
author = "Marcin Spyra and Janina Kleemann and Cetin, {Nuket Ipek} and {V{\'a}zquez Navarrete}, {Cesar Jes{\'u}s} and Christian Albert and Igone Palacios-Agundez and Ibone Ametzaga-Arregi and {La Rosa}, Daniele and Daniel Rozas-V{\'a}squez and {Adem Esmail}, Blal and Paolo Picchi and Davide Geneletti and K{\"o}nig, {Hannes J.} and Koo, {Hong Mi} and Leena Kopperoinen and Christine F{\"u}rst",
note = "Authors would like to express their gratitude to the guest editors of this special issue of Landscape Ecology journal and to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier version of this manuscript.",
year = "2019",
month = jul,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1007/s10980-018-0745-6",
language = "English",
volume = "34",
pages = "1715--1735",
journal = "Landscape Ecology",
issn = "0921-2973",
publisher = "Springer Netherlands",
number = "7",
}