Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Natura 2000 Network: Introducing Proxy Indicators and Conflict Risk in Greece

Vassiliki Vlami, Ioannis P. Kokkoris, Stamatis Zogaris, George Kehayias and Panayotis Dimopoulos
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Vassiliki Vlami: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinion, Greece
Ioannis P. Kokkoris: Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Stamatis Zogaris: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 19013 Anavissos, Greece
George Kehayias: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinion, Greece
Panayotis Dimopoulos: Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

Land, 2020, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-27

Abstract: Within the ecosystem services framework, cultural ecosystem services (CES) have rarely been applied in state-wide surveys of protected area networks. Through a review of available data and online research, we present 22 potential proxy indicators of non-material benefits people may obtain from nature in Natura sites in Greece. Despite the limitations due to data scarcity, this first distance-based study screens a recently expanded protected area system (446 Natura sites) providing steps towards an initial CES capacity review, site prioritization and data gap screening. Results identify hot spot Natura sites for CES values and wider areas of importance for the supply of CES. Additionally, a risk analysis mapping exercise explores the potential risk of conflict in the Natura sites, due to proposed wind farm developments. ? number of sites that may suffer serious degradation of CES values due to the large number of proposed wind turbines within these protected areas is identified, with 26% of Greece’s Natura sites showing serious and high risk of degradation of their aesthetic values. Screening-level survey exercises such as these may play an important role in advancing conservation effectiveness by increasing the appreciation of the multiple benefits provided by Natura protected areas. Based on this review, we propose recommendations through an adaptive approach to CES inventory and research initiatives in the protected area network.

Keywords: protected areas; ecosystem services; recreation; landscape; mapping; wind farms; conflict (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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