Understanding the ecosystem services that citizens value can help motivate conservation and focus research on areas of high social importance. We present an eight-step framework for assessing the social demand for ecosystem services, which can be applied to assess citizens’ values for ecosystems. The framework consists of (1) determine study objectives, (2) identify and engage key stakeholders; (3) identify all relevant ecosystem services; (4) develop indicators for ecosystem services; (5) select method to elicit social demand; (6) elicit social demand; (7) analyze and compare social demand; and (8) assess implications.
Policy Brief
Download a PDF of the OPERAs Policy Brief
How to engage citizens in applying the ecosystem services approach?
Links and resources
- Summary guide to eight-step framework and comprehensive guidance document.
- An inventory of methods for social valuation, as well as prototype applications from the OPERAs exemplars
- Video illustrating how to use language that resonates with stakeholders
- Video demonstrating framing issues for specific audiences
- Instruments: socio-cultural valuation through in-depth one-on-one interviews using Streamline - a bespoke scientific interview format enabling public participation in policy, planning and research.
Webinar: Natural capital and ecosystem services in research, policy and practice
The sixth in the six-part series of OPERAs' webinars, took place on Monday 16 October 2017. You can watch the recording below or on the Oppla YouTube channel.