Ecosystem services and ethics

Kurt Jax, David N. Barton, Kai M.A. Chan, Rudolf de Groot, Ulrike Doyle, Uta Eser, Christoph Görg, Erik Gómez-Baggethun, Yuliana Griewald, Wolfgang Haber, Roy Haines-Young, Ulrich Heink, Thomas Jahn, Hans Joosten, Lilin Kerschbaumer, Horst Korn, Gary W. Luck, Bettina Matzdorf, Barbara Muraca, Carsten Neßhöver, Bryan Norton, Konrad Ott, Marion Potschin, Felix Rauschmayer, Christina von Haaren and Sabine Wichmann

Ecological Economics, 2013, vol. 93, issue C, 260-268

Abstract: A major strength of the ecosystem services (ESS) concept is that it allows a succinct description of how human well-being depends on nature, showing that the neglect of such dependencies has negative consequences on human well-being and the economy. As ESS refer to human needs and interests, values are to be considered when dealing with the concept in practice. As a result we argue that in using the concept there is a need to be clear about what different dimensions of value are involved, and be aware of ethical issues that might be associated with the concept. A systematic analysis of the ethical implications associated to the ESS concept is still lacking. We address this deficiency by scrutinising value dimensions associated with the concept, and use this to explore the associated ethical implications. We then highlight how improved transparency in the use of the ESS concept can contribute to using its strengths without succumbing to possible drawbacks arising from ethical problems. These problems concern the dangers that some uses of the concept have in obscuring certain types of value, and in masking unevenness in the distribution of costs and benefits that can arise in the management of ESS.

Keywords: Ecosystem services; Ethics; Values; Nature conservation; Biodiversity; Environmental policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (77)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:93:y:2013:i:c:p:260-268

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2013.06.008

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