A Social Values Typology for Comprehensive Assessment of Coastal Zone Ecosystem Services

Abstract

Coastal areas provide a wealth of resources and represent the most developed spaces worldwide. As pressures on these resources increase, managers and policymakers require understanding that facilitates comprehensive valuation of ecosystem services, including social–ecological dynamics and the coupling of social and natural systems. Adoption of ecosystem management approaches has created a need for increased knowledge of social systems commensurate to baseline ecological understanding; that is, managers benefit from integrating stakeholder values into decision-making processes. This study, using the Delphi technique, elicited knowledge and opinions from international coastal experts regarding relevant social values of ecosystem services, facilitating integration of multiple perspectives into an informed consensus typology of 16 social values. Agencies across the board see inclusive evaluation of ecosystem services, including social values, as critical to robust decision making regarding relevant resources. The next step for research findings is application of the typology in resource assessment initiatives within research and practice-based efforts.