Marine and Coastal Cultural Ecosystem Services: knowledge gaps and research priorities

• DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.2.e12290
• Publication Date: 2017-05-05T09:09:49Z
• Authors: João Garcia Rodri...; Alexis Conides; Susana Rivero Rod...; Saša Raicevich; Pablo Pita; Kristin Kleisner; Cristina Pita; Priscila Lopes; Virginia Alonso R...; Sandra Ramos; Dimitris Klaoudatos; Luís Outeiro; Claire Armstrong; Lida Teneva; Stephanie Stefanski; Anne Böhnke-Henrichs; Marion Kruse; Ana Lillebø; Elena Bennett; Andrea Belgrano; Arantza Murillas; Isabel Sousa Pinto; Benjamin Burkhard; Sebastián Villasante
• Keywords: Marine ecosystem; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Marine habitats; Natural Capital

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) reflect peoples’ physical and cognitive interactions with nature are increasingly recognised for providing non-material benefits to human societies. Whereas coasts, seas, oceans sustain a great proportion of the population, CES provided by these ecosystems have remained largely unexplored. Therefore, our aims were (1) analyse state research on marine coastal CES, (2) identify knowledge gaps, (3) pinpoint priorities way forward. To accomplish objectives, we did systematic review scientific literature synthesised subset 72 peer-reviewed publications. Results show that is scarce compared other service categories. It primarily focused local regional sociocultural or economic assessments from Western Europe North America. Such bias narrows understanding social-ecological western cultural setting, undermining role worldviews in wide range between practices worldwide. Additionally, identified clusters co-occurring drivers change affecting habitats their CES. Our highlights gaps in: lack integrated valuation assessments; linking contribution wellbeing; assessing more subjective intangible classes; (4) identifying open-ocean deep-sea areas CES; (5) non-natural capital co-production Research should be aimed at filling gaps. Overcoming such challenges can result increased appreciation balanced decision-supporting mechanisms will ultimately contribute sustainable humans ecosystems.