Involving multiple actors in ecosystem service governance: Exploring the role of stated preference valuation

A main challenge of ecosystem service (ES) governance is engagement with the multiple actors involved in the management of ecosystem services. This task is demanding because (1) Actor interests differ depending on whether they demand or supply ecosystem services, and (2) there are multiple and often contrary perceptions of ecosystem services. High hopes are placed on economic valuation to facilitate a mutual understanding on trade-offs in ecosystem service provision and to identify management solutions. However, critics point at the shortcomings of valuation methods, e.g. the neglect of future, social and incommensurable values. We evaluate the potential of stated preference methods (SP) methods for ecosystem service governance, particularly in addressing heterogeneous actors. Three purposes of SP valuation are illustrated: Project and policy appraisal, design of policy instruments, and awareness raising. Four theses on the contributions of SP analysis to ecosystem service governance are formulated: They (a) help igniting a societal debate on the importance of ecosystem services, (b) include non-market ecosystem services in decisions, (c) consider distributive effects of ES management, and (d) gain behavioural insights for policy design. Deliberative approaches circumvent some limitations of SP analysis and account for the heterogeneity of the multiple actors involved in ecosystem service governance.