Whose values count? A review of the nature valuation studies with a focus on justice

• Published in: Current opinion in environmental sustainability Vol. 64; p. 101350
• Main Authors: Schaafsma, M, Ahn, S, Castro, AJ, Dendoncker, N, Filyushkina, A, González-Jiménez, D, Huambachano, Mariaelena, Mukherjee, N, Mwampamba, TH, Ngouhouo-Poufoun, J, Palomo, I, Pandit, R, Termansen, M, Ghazi, H, Jacobs, S, Lee, H, Contreras, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Miljövetenskap
• ISSN: 1877-3435; 1877-3443
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101350

The Values Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services shows that multiple valuation methods and approaches exist to assess diverse value types. The evidence is based on the largest review of academic valuation studies on nature to date, developed for the Values Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). We evaluate studies according to environmental justice criteria. The results suggest that although diverse value types and indicators are assessed across studies, few individual studies are plural, and studies fail to provide evidence on distributive justice and score low on procedural justice indicators. We provide a set of recommendations for incorporating issues of justice in the design of valuation studies. [Display omitted] •Many papers in the nature valuation literature do not meet justice standards.•Very few papers provide information about the distributive outcomes of interventions.•Valuation studies rarely involve stakeholders across all project phases.•Valuation efforts remain focused on instrumental values.•Best practices require transdisciplinarity, multiple methods and epistemologies.