Socio-Cultural Values of Ecosystem Services from Oak Forests in the Eastern Himalaya

Tshewang Dorji, Justin D. Brookes, José M. Facelli, Robin R. Sears, Tshewang Norbu, Kuenzang Dorji, Yog Raj Chhetri and Himlal Baral
Additional contact information
Tshewang Dorji: The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Justin D. Brookes: The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
José M. Facelli: The School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Robin R. Sears: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor 16115, Indonesia
Tshewang Norbu: Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research, P.O. Box 2049, Thimphu, Bhutan
Kuenzang Dorji: Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research, P.O. Box 2049, Thimphu, Bhutan
Yog Raj Chhetri: Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research, P.O. Box 2049, Thimphu, Bhutan
Himlal Baral: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor 16115, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: Identification and assessment of socio-cultural values of ecosystem services are increasingly important for the planning and management of forest resources. Key information necessary is how different forest user groups perceive and prioritize different ecosystem services based on their local setting. We assessed the socio-cultural values of ecosystem services of high-altitude oak forests in Western Bhutan using participatory approaches with two important forest users: local communities and forest experts. We found that these forests serve as a pool of 22 ecosystem services under four MEA categories of provisioning (9), regulating (8), supporting (2), and cultural (3) services. Fresh water was unanimously identified as the most valuable service, as well as the most vulnerable, by both the groups. The priorities of local communities inclined towards provisioning and cultural services due to their dependence on these services for their livelihood and wellbeing. Forest experts’ priorities were more evenly spread over three categories of services: provisioning, regulating, and supporting services, reflecting their broader interest in resource management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. Several regulating and supporting services were not easily identified by many villagers, suggesting that bridging the priorities of local interests with broader national forestry goals may require public partnerships and integrated decision-making about the entire suite of ecosystem services. Several management interventions proposed by the groups were presented for consideration by local users, scientists, and policy makers. For all ongoing and future ecosystem service assessments, we recommend the integration of socio-cultural values with biophysical and monetary assessments to fully value the benefits from the high-altitude oak forests.

Keywords: Bhutan Himalayas; socio-cultural values; mountain ecosystem services; Quercus semecarpifolia; oak forest; integrated decision-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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