Use your power for good: plural valuation of nature – the Oaxaca statement

Abstract

Cite this article: Jacobs S et al. (2020). Use your power for good: plural valuation of naturethe Oaxaca statement. Global Sustainability 3, e8, 1-7. https://doi. Non-technical abstractDecisions on the use of nature reflect the values and rights of individuals, communities and society at large. The values of nature are expressed through cultural norms, rules and legislation, and they can be elicited using a wide range of tools, including those of economics. None of the approaches to elicit peoples' values are neutral. Unequal power relations influence valuation and decision-making and are at the core of most environmental conflicts. As actors in sustainability thinking, environmental scientists and practitioners are becoming more aware of their own posture, normative stance, responsibility and relative power in society. Based on a transdisciplinary workshop, our perspective paper provides a normative basis for this new community of scientists and practitioners engaged in the plural valuation of nature. Technical abstractDuring a workshop held in Oaxaca, Mexico, a shared vision, mission and strategies to foster a more plural valuation of nature were developed. The participants represent a wide range of backgrounds and are active in science, policy and practitioner networks and activities.https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.

Four propositions about how valuation intervenes in local environmental politics

“…In a time where species extinctions and ecological degradation are occurring at an alarming rate (IPBES, 2019), researchers, governments, environmental organisations and others are promoting the language and concepts of values and valuation as a new modus operandi for environmental decision-making (Díaz et al, 2018;Jacobs et al, 2016Jacobs et al, , 2020Zafra-Calvo et al, 2020). Some researchers hope that, by developing valuation methods to characterise the diverse tangible and intangible relationships, meanings and aspirations (i.e.…”

“…Some researchers hope that, by developing valuation methods to characterise the diverse tangible and intangible relationships, meanings and aspirations (i.e. values) that people associate with the natural world and their place in it, decisions about the environment can be informed by an integrated assessment of multiple values and not just the dominant forces of property and profit (Gould et al, 2019;Jacobs et al, 2016Jacobs et al, , 2020Norton, 2015;Pascual et al, 2017).…”

“…In the past two decades, the number of conceptual frameworks for conducting valuation has grown (Harrison et al, 2018;Jacobs et al, 2018;Raymond et al, 2019;Tadaki et al, 2017). Economic approaches such as benefit-cost analysis aim to quantify in mon- Kenter, 2018;Peterson et al, 2018), these approaches share the premise that the systematic characterisation of people's relationships to nature-what we refer to here inclusively as valuation-can and should be used to underpin environmental decision-making (Jacobs et al, 2016(Jacobs et al, , 2020.…”

“…In recent years, environmental practitioners have become more explicitly political in their objectives for valuation. Some have argued that, rather than aspiring primarily to theoretical coherence or methodological innovation, those conducting valuation must hold themselves accountable for ensuring that valuation contributes to socially just and ecologically sustainable outcomes for communities and places in practice (Jacobs et al, 2016(Jacobs et al, , 2020Kallis et al, 2013;Schröter et al, 2017;Zafra-Calvo et al, 2020). The academic literature provides ample intellectual resources for comparing questions of theory and method, but there is little published wisdom to guide valuation professionals through the mess of local environmental politics.…”

Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Natura 2000 Network: Introducing Proxy Indicators and Conflict Risk in Greece

“…Minimal social media data was compiled in this survey; only one citizens' science portal on bird watching/birding hotspots (ebird) [93] was successfully utilized (i.e., accurately identifying locations with outstanding wildlife watching opportunities [94]). Especially since in protected areas local profit-generation depends on tourism, recreation and educational interest [95], involving more actors through social media and crowd-sourcing could enable plural valuation approaches; i.e., assessing multiple values attributed to nature by stakeholders [87,[96][97][98]. 5.…”