Assessment of Cultural Ecosystem Services in a National Park: Participatory Mapping in Latvia

Aiga Spage () and Madara Markova
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Aiga Spage: Institute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Madara Markova: Institute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent the non-material relationships between people and nature, yet their intangible nature poses challenges for spatial planning and policy integration. This study examines CES in Gauja National Park, Latvia, focusing on symbolic, sacred, educational, and cultural heritage values—types often underrepresented in CES assessments. Using a Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) approach, a map-based public survey was conducted via ArcGIS Survey123, enabling respondents to mark and describe places of personal significance. While widely applied internationally, PGIS remains rarely used in Latvia, especially in planning and municipal decision-making. This study explores the use of the PGIS method for the assessment of CES, serving as a pilot application to test its suitability and potential for integration into spatial planning. Points of value were successfully georeferenced and reflect diverse associations. While well-known heritage sites were commonly mentioned, respondents also identified personally meaningful locations, sometimes situated outside the park’s formal boundaries. The findings highlight both the strengths and limitations of digital participatory methods, including issues related to response rates, accessibility, and digital literacy. The study demonstrates that mapping CES with PGIS can offer valuable insights for inclusive landscape governance and supports the incorporation of local perspectives into spatial planning.

Keywords: cultural ecosystem services; participatory GIS; Gauja National Park (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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