Demonstrating the Values-Based WeValue InSitu Approach to Capture Hidden Intangible Benefits of Ecosystem Services in Nigeria

Chike C. Ebido, Benita C. Odii, Shehanas Pazhoor, Mahsa Firoozmand, Andrew Church and Marie K. Harder ()
Additional contact information
Chike C. Ebido: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 2205, Songhu Rd., Shanghai 200438, China
Benita C. Odii: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 2205, Songhu Rd., Shanghai 200438, China
Shehanas Pazhoor: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 2205, Songhu Rd., Shanghai 200438, China
Mahsa Firoozmand: Values and Sustainability Research Group, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
Andrew Church: Vice Chancellor’s Office, University of Bedfordshire, Luton LU1 3JU, UK
Marie K. Harder: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 2205, Songhu Rd., Shanghai 200438, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: The valuation of the benefits to humans of ecosystem services (ESs) provided by nature has become increasingly important. A current challenge is the measurement of the range of benefits which are not traded in the marketplace and are generally considered intangible, with further challenges to even classify them formally, e.g., as cultural ecosystem services (CESs). Previous studies have emphasized a related challenge: the strong need for engagement of not just experts but ’ordinary people’. Approaches using participatory approaches and less formal communication pathways to draw out local CES values have been reported. However, critical reflections of those studies reported significant differences in understanding between ’outsider researchers’ and ’locals’, calling validity deeply into question. Even deliberative approaches backfired by significantly modifying local social constructs during elicitation. In this study, we demonstrate a fundamentally different kind of approach, developed from the bottom–up sustainability indicator development process called WeValue InSitu. It focuses not on improving deeper top–down ‘engagement’ of a specific topic, but instead on improving local articulation of existing envelopes of in situ human shared values, naturally integrated. The WeValue InSitu output is a framework of separate but interlinked concise Statements of local shared values. Some of these Statements may refer to values concerning ecosystems, but situated amongst others. Here, we analyze the outputs from 23 convenience groups in three sites in Nigeria and investigate the shared values found empirically against existing economics-based MEA classifications. The findings include hybrid values which span existing CES sub-categories and even across into market-based categories. This opens a discussion as to whether future ES valuation frameworks might evolve more usefully with foundations built on empirically derived typologies of human values, rather than bolt-on modifications to financially based economics concepts. It also raises questions about the validity of current valuations made which cannot capture empirically found human values.

Keywords: cultural ecosystem services; situated values; shared values; indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2761/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2761/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2761-:d:1616541

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().