The Social Relevance of Water Quality and Cultural Ecosystem Services: An Application to a Saline Wetland in an Arid Environment

Solino-Barreiro, Carmen , Jimenez-Espinosa, Rosario , Solino, Mario

2025-04-28 AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS 2025   35(卷), 5(期), (null页)

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The deterioration of wetlands and loss of ecosystem services is a consequence of human-induced activities and the effects of climate change. In Spain, this situation is intensified in southern arid and semi-arid regions such as Andaluc & iacute;a, where droughts are particularly intense. From a socioecological perspective, it is essential to enhance the understanding of the social relevance of wetland conservation and its contribution to social well-being. This study focuses on the study of human dimensions of the wetland Laguna Honda, a natural reserve located in the province of Ja & eacute;n, southern Spain. For that purpose, an economic valuation of restoration and conservation actions was performed. A discrete choice experiment was conducted to 296 inhabitants in Ja & eacute;n to evaluate their knowledge, perceptions and preferences about the conservation of the natural reserve. Results show that local residents are willing to pay for improving the water quality and increasing knowledge and awareness. These results suggest the need to improve the understanding of local wetlands and their ecosystem services, as well as the implementation of new management and conservation measures keeping in mind the societal preferences. El deterioro de los humedales y la p & eacute;rdida de servicios ecosist & eacute;micos es consecuencia de actividades antropoc & eacute;ntricas y los efectos del cambio clim & aacute;tico. En Espa & ntilde;a, esta situaci & oacute;n se intensifica en las regiones del sur y regiones semi-& aacute;ridas como Andaluc & iacute;a, donde las sequ & iacute;as son particularmente intensas. Desde una perspectiva socio-ecol & oacute;gica, es esencial mejorar la comprensi & oacute;n de la relevancia social de la conservaci & oacute;n de humedales y su contribuci & oacute;n al bienestar social. Este estudio se centra en el estudio de las dimensiones humanas del humedal de Laguna Honda, una reserva natural localizada en la provincial de Ja & eacute;n, en el sur de Espa & ntilde;a. Para ello, se realiz & oacute; una valoraci & oacute;n econ & oacute;mica de acciones de restauraci & oacute;n y conservaci & oacute;n. Un experimento de elecci & oacute;n discreta fue realizado a 296 habitantes de Ja & eacute;n para evaluar su conocimiento, percepciones y preferencias sobre la conservaci & oacute;n de la reserve natural. Los resultados muestran que los residentes locales est & aacute;n dispuestos a pagar por mejorar la calidad del agua e incrementar el conocimiento y la sensibilizaci & oacute;n. Esos resultados sugieren la necesidad de mejorar la comprensi & oacute;n de los humedales locales y sus servicios ecosist & eacute;micos, as & iacute; como la implementaci & oacute;n de nuevas medidas de gesti & oacute;n y conservaci & oacute;n teniendo en cuenta las preferencias de la sociedad.