Understanding the diversity of values underpinning forest conservation

Ihemezie, Eberechukwu Johnpaul; Stringer, Lindsay C.; Dallimer, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109734

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Scholars have applied the Q-methodology for studying human subjectivity on a specific topic (Watts 2015), including in conservation and environmental domains (Zabala et al 2018;Ihemezie et al 2022) and in framing ecological sustainability discourses (e.g., Barry and Proops 1999). The Q-methodology is appropriate for the study reported in this paper because it focuses on stakeholders' holistic narratives of a problem (Watts and Stenner 2012), i.e., human behavior, perceptions in the real world, or the construct of MSPs to deal with landscape challenges.…”

Section: Background To the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Multistakeholder Platforms in Environmental Governance: Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions in Kalomo District, Zambia, Using Q-Method

Siangulube

2023

Environmental Management

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Multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) are increasingly applied in environmental governance as institutions to collectively negotiate challenges, opportunities, and policy options in contested landscapes. However, their contributions and effectiveness depend on how stakeholders perceive and frame the role of MSPs in addressing social and environmental challenges. Despite this dependence, stakeholder perceptions of MSPs are currently under-researched. Hence this empirical study carried out in Zambia’s Kalomo District asks: how do stakeholder groups perceive the role of MSPs in addressing landscape challenges, given the context of the dual land tenure system, and what does this imply for the implementation of integrated landscape approaches? This study uses Q-methodology to analyze the perceptions of purposefully selected stakeholders from state institutions, civil society organizations, land users, and others familiar with existing MSPs at the district and village levels. The findings reveal three narratives. The first one presents MSPs as institutions that foster dialogue. The second narrative foregrounds the role of the government and private sector, despite acknowledging the diversity of stakeholders in MSPs. In this narrative, MSPs should focus on supporting market-driven solutions to resolve landscape challenges. The third narrative recognizes power imbalances and considers MSPs as institutions to identify policy gaps and needs. The first two narratives are positioned in Dryzek’s discourse classification as environmental problem-solving, while the third inclines toward green radicalism. Despite this divergence, there was consensus that MSPs have the potential to harmonize policies in a dual governance system and encourage dialogue between stakeholders to reconcile landscape challenges.

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Section: Background To the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This exercise lasted between 1 and 1½ hours. A post-grid sorting interview was later conducted to seek clarification on the reasons participants gave for how they organized their statements (Ihemezie et al 2022).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Multistakeholder Platforms in Environmental Governance: Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions in Kalomo District, Zambia, Using Q-Method

Siangulube

2023

Environmental Management

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“…This situation indicates a need to go beyond exclusionary approaches that involve forced removal of local rights, towards a more inclusive and diversified approach that can identify multiple values from diverse stakeholder perspectives (Lele et al, 2010). It is particularly important to include the values of local people in close proximity to conservation sites whose interests and actions can influence conservation outcomes (Ihemezie et al, 2022). Currently, only about 16% of forests globally are legally/formally protected (Ritchie & Roser, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating biocultural conservation and sociocultural valuation in the management of sacred forests: What values are important to the public?

Ihemezie,

Albaladejo‐García,

Stringer

et al. 2023

People and Nature

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The need to recognise plural values and integrate these into policy design has long been of interest in nature conservation. However, we also need to understand whether and how different values are prioritised among diverse stakeholders. This is particularly important when indigenous and traditional cultures play a role in how land is managed and protected. Working in the sacred forests of Nigeria, we applied the principles of biocultural conservation and sociocultural valuation to understand the values that underpin people's relationship with nature and with other users of nature. We operationalised this by employing participatory workshop methods to identify multiple values of sacred forests, and conjoint analysis to elicit local people's value priorities and preferences for conserving sacred forests. We identified multiple values attributed to sacred forests, but the strongest preferences were for improved provision of medicinal values. However, preference heterogeneity analysis showed that sacred forests are valued differently among clusters of people with distinct sociodemographic profiles. Our findings also showed that the current management strategy for the conservation of sacred forests is inadequate to galvanise shared and collective responsibility from diverse stakeholders. Using a value‐based approach, more robust management strategies that will yield high utility to the public were determined and recommended for implementation. Policy implications. Overall, our study demonstrates that sacred forests are valued in multiple ways above and beyond their role in a cultural belief system. New strategies are therefore needed to effectively manage and conserve them. We recommend a plural approach to the conservation of sacred forests that will incorporate multiple values. This can be achieved by integrating biocultural conservation and sociocultural valuation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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“…Therefore, different assumptions regarding the biocentric and anthropocentric paradigms about preferred values of forests [16,17] have sparked conflicts over forest use. While proponents of the biocentric paradigm avoid the functions of timber production and emphasize preserving the integrity of forested areas derived from aesthetic, spiritual and ecological values [18][19][20], proponents of the anthropocentric paradigm include representatives of the timber industry, who perceive conservation and biodiversity strategies implemented in protected areas as limiting their economic activities [21][22][23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various variables influence biocentric and anthropocentric forest management advocacy [24], including urban and extra-urban origin [25], soil erosion and environmental pollution in a geographic region [20], land ownership structure [26], mining characteristics [27], and public knowledge about forests and practices used in forests [19]. Conflicts stemming from different human values have led to various interactions and strategies of forest management [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Design of a New National Park Using the Quintuple Helix Model

Sloup

Riedl

Machoň

2023

Forests

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Protected areas serve as stepping stones for the preservation of biodiversity, and can provide economic and social benefits to communities. National parks aim to limit human intervention to safeguard natural communities and processes. This study analyzes the impacts of transforming the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area into the proposed Křivoklátsko National Park in the Czech Republic, which is a program promoted by political parties. Using the quintuple helix model, it assesses the change from a sustainable development perspective. The analysis considers economic, social, and environmental aspects, including the impact on the local inhabitants, the economy, forestry, business activities, and regional development. The existing management in the Křivoklátsko region exemplifies sustainable multifunctional forest management. Based on the evaluation, the study finds insufficient arguments for declaring the Křivoklátsko National Park. The study emphasizes the need to balance the social demand for nature protection with the awareness of existing measures and specific area conditions. Nature protection should integrate itself into all human activities within the culturally and historically created landscape, rather than solely pursuing political goals. Participatory forestry management plays a crucial role in landscape transformation. The study highlights the importance of sustainable landscape development and the interactions between the university, government, industry, and civil sector actors with the environment.

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Understanding the diversity of values underpinning forest conservation

Cited by 9 publications

References 49 publications

The Role of Multistakeholder Platforms in Environmental Governance: Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions in Kalomo District, Zambia, Using Q-Method

The Role of Multistakeholder Platforms in Environmental Governance: Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions in Kalomo District, Zambia, Using Q-Method

Integrating biocultural conservation and sociocultural valuation in the management of sacred forests: What values are important to the public?

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Design of a New National Park Using the Quintuple Helix Model

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