Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South

ZAFRA-CALVO, NOELIA; BALVANERA, PATRICIA; PASCUAL, UNAI; MERÇON, JULIANA; MARTÍN-LÓPEZ, BERTA; VAN NOORDWIJK, MEINE; MWAMPAMBA, TUYENI HEITA; LELE, SHARACHCHANDRA; IFEJIKA SPERANZA, CHINWE; ARIAS-ARÉVALO, PAOLA; CABROL, DIEGO; CÁCERES, DANIEL M.; O'FARRELL, PATRICK; SUBRAMANIAN, SUNEETHA MAZHENCHERY; DEVY, SOUBADRA; KRISHNAN, SIDDHARTHA; CARMENTA, RACHEL; GUIBRUNET, LOUISE; KRAUS-ELSIN, YOANNA; MOERSBERGER, HANNAH; CARIÑO, JOJI; DÍAZ, SANDRA

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 63

0959-3780

Plural valuation is about eliciting thediverse values of nature articulated by different stakeholders in order toinform decision making and thus achieve more equitable and sustainableoutcomes. We explore what approaches align with plural valuation on the ground,as well as how different social-ecological contexts play a role in translatingplural valuation into decisions and outcomes. Based on a co-constructedanalytical approach relying on empirical information from ten cases from theGlobal South, we find that plural valuation contributes to equitable andsustainable outcomes if the valuation process: 1) is based on participatoryvalue elicitation approaches; 2) is framed with a clear action-orientedpurpose; 3) provides space for marginalized stakeholders to articulate theirvalues in ways that can be included in decisions; 4) is used as a tool toidentify and help reconciledifferent cognitive models about human-nature relations; and 5) fostersopen  communication and collaboration among stakeholders. We also findthat power asymmetries can hinder plural valuation. As interest and support forundertaking plural valuation grows, a deeper understanding is needed regardinghow it can be adapted to different purposes, approaches, and social-ecologicalcontexts in order to contribute to social equity and sustainability.