Exploring Plural Values of Ecosystem Services: Local Peoples’ Perceptions and Implications for Protected Area Management in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

The remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil are significant for biodiversity and provide benefits for people (climate regulation, water supply, health and welfare, among others). However, nature’s importance for different people may vary, for social, environmental, and economic reasons. In this pa...

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Published inSustainability Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 1019
Main Authors Coelho-Junior, Marcondes G., de Oliveira, Athila L., da Silva-Neto, Eduardo C., Castor-Neto, Thayanne C., de O. Tavares, Ana A., Basso, Vanessa M., Turetta, Ana P. D., Perkins, Patricia E., de Carvalho, Acacio G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2021
Subjects
Biodiversity
Community
Decision making
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental economics
Forests
Parks & recreation areas
Protected areas
Rural areas
Sustainability
Values
Water supply
Brazil
Atlantic Forest
Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Summary:The remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil are significant for biodiversity and provide benefits for people (climate regulation, water supply, health and welfare, among others). However, nature’s importance for different people may vary, for social, environmental, and economic reasons. In this paper, we explore such differences among people living in communities surrounding the Cunhambebe State Park (PEC), a large area of Atlantic Forest. We assess their perceptions regarding the plural values of ecosystem services derived from the PEC and explore ways in which this could affect the management of this protected area. Our assumption is that analyzing the perceptions of people who live in the communities surrounding can be a key tool for the formulation of proposals to improve management models and address socio-environmental conflicts. Based on interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, our results show a direct link between culture and environment since relational values and cultural ecosystem services are closely related to local people’s valuation of the PEC. Therefore, we support management strategies which are based on local values for land and forest use in a sustainable way. Our findings may contribute to decision making by PEC managers, governments, local stakeholders, and researchers.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13031019