Spatial Distribution of Cultural Ecosystem Services in Rural Landscapes Using PGIS and SolVES

Yasin Yaman and Seda Örücü ()
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Yasin Yaman: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Sakarya University of Applied Science, 54580 Arifiye, Turkey
Seda Örücü: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Süleyman Demirel University, 32000 Isparta, Turkey

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Cultural ecosystem services (CES) play a vital role in rural well-being, yet their spatial patterns and local perceptions remain underexplored in many regions, including Türkiye. This study aims to assess the social values of CES in rural landscapes by focusing on the Şarkikaraağaç and Yenişarbademli districts of Isparta Province. Using Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) and the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) models, we collected and analyzed spatial data from 836 community surveys, mapping 3771 CES value points. Sentinel-2A imagery and derived indices (NDVI, NDWI, SAVI, NDBI) were used to classify landscape infrastructures into green, blue, yellow, and grey categories. The results show that aesthetic and recreational services were most highly valued, followed by biodiversity, spiritual, and therapeutic values. Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed significant demographic and spatial variation in CES preferences, while Principal Component Analysis highlighted two key dimensions of value perception. MaxEnt-based modeling within SolVES confirmed the spatial distribution of CES with high predictive accuracy (AUC > 0.93). Our findings underscore the importance of integrating CES into sustainable land-use planning and suggest that infrastructure type and proximity to natural features significantly influence CES valuation in rural settings.

Keywords: cultural ecosystem services; participatory mapping; rural landscapes; SolVES; landscape infrastructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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