What Determines Individual Demand for Ecosystem Services?: Insights from a Social Science Study of Three German Regions. Issue 1 (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peter, Sophie
• Is Part Of: Nature + culture. Volume 17:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: cultural theory of risk -- ecosystem services demand -- mixed-methods approach -- semi-structured interviews -- socio-cultural dynamics -- sociological risk theory -- systems theory -- world risk society; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Nature and civilization -- Periodicals; 306
• DOI: 10.3167/nc.2022.170102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-6073

Abstract

Abstract: Human demand for natural resources tends to be unsustainable. However, within ecosystem services (ES) literature, a rather rationalist view of ES demand dominates. This article broadens this perspective by looking at the demand from the angle of sociological risk theory. Theoretically driven interviews were conducted in three German regions and interpreted in light of risk theory. The empirical results indicate that demand can be explained by multiple aspects: (1) living and working environments, nature perception; (2) individual perceptions of environmental risk; and (3) societal socio-cultural influences. These results can be built upon in future ES research to improve our understanding of the social drivers of demand, which may inform the cultural landscape's governance and communication strategies that encourage sustainable ES demand.