The White Horse Press

Environmental Values

Contents of Volume 18

Other volumes of EV

Environmental Values

Ecosystem Services and Sacred Natural Sites: Reconciling Material and Non-material Values in Nature Conservation

Environmental Values 18 (2009): 417-427. doi: 10.3197/096327109X12532653285731

ABSTRACT

Ecosystems services are provisions that humans derive from nature. Ecologists trying to value ecosystems have proposed five categories of these services: preserving, supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural. While this ecosystem services framework attributes 'material' value to nature, sacred natural sites are areas of 'non-material' spiritual significance to people. Can we reconcile the material and non-material values? Ancient classical traditions recognise five elements of nature: earth, water, air, fire and ether. This commentary demonstrates that the perceived properties of these elements correspond with the ecosystem services framework. Whilst the two can be reconciled, the 'elements of nature' framework is argued to be more suitable to make a case for conservation of sacred natural sites because it can be attractive to traditional societies whilst being acceptable to Western science.

KEYWORDS

Ecosystem services, elements, nature, sacred sites

REFERENCES to other articles in Environmental Values:

To Value Functions or Services? An Analysis of Ecosystem Valuation Approaches. Erik Ansink, Lars Heim and Knut Per Hasund

On the Economic Value of Ecosystem Services. Mark Sagoff

How Much is that Ecosystem in the Window? The One with the Bio-diverse Trail. Clive L. Spash

Download full text (PDF format) from IngentaConnect. Access is free if your institution subscribes to Environmental Values.

Subscriptions and back numbers of Environmental Values.

THE WHITE HORSE PRESS
1 Strond
ISLE OF HARRIS HS5 3UD, UK
Tel: +44 1859 520204