Natural Capital Conversations - Cultural Ecosystem Services Connected to Water

Cultural Ecosystem Services Connected to Water - February 2, 2021

People derive multiple non-material benefits from ecosystems. For example, forest-dwellers, fishers, and birdwatchers’ identities all depend on forests, fish, and birds respectively. We also derive recreational benefits from nature and develop place attachment to certain landscape and seascape characteristics. The purpose of this session is to show novel approaches to studying and characterizing water-related cultural services. With examples from pre-Hispanic fisheries in Peru and from riparian areas and rivers in Idaho, USA, we will have a discussion session on qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating cultural services of people in the past and present.

Moderator & Panelist: 

• Alejandra Echeverri, Postdoctoral Scholar at the Natural Capital Project, Stanford University (Moderator)
• Rebecca Hale, Assistant professor in social-ecological sciences, Idaho State University
• Rocío López de la Lama, Ph.D. Candidate at the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, The University of British Columbia, Canada

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The Natural Capital Conversations is the newest addition to NatCap’s virtual programming. Join us for live conversations with scientists, practitioners, and leaders in government and business.

Our Conversations format is designed to spark engaging discussion, learn from others’ experiences, and promote connections with collaborators old and new.

In 2021, the events will feature everything from climate-smart coastal planning to cultural ecosystem services and more. We encourage you to participate in the live sessions, where you’ll be able to engage with panelists. Each session’s recording will be posted here and on our YouTube page after the event.