Blicharska, Malgorzata
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
There are numerous strategies to reverse biodiversity decline, ranging from economic, through ecological, to ethical ones. Which arguments are used in the conservation may have bearing on the actual implementation of biodiversity policies. To understand conservation professionals' perceptions of biodiversity is particularly important in the countries in transition, where the new environmental policies are being implemented, the approaches to governance are changing and new biodiversity discourses are emerging. This study investigates what the biodiversity conservation professionals in Poland believe the rationale behind conservation is. We reveal two main perspectives - one focused on intrinsic value of biodiversity and one underlining its utilitarian value. Even if the intrinsic value perspective prevails, the economic framing of biodiversity value is emerging. This framing is important in the face of the ongoing changes in Poland with focus on economic development and relatively little attention paid to biodiversity. The utilitarian approach to conservation, reinforced by the concept of ecosystem services, can be used to supplement the emerging biodiversity discourse strengthening the conservation case. The richness of perspectives among the conservation professionals can facilitate deliberate construction of the new conservation discourse in Poland combining the notion of intrinsic value of nature with the utilitarian approach.
Keywords
biodiversity professionals; ecosystem services; intrinsic value; perceptions; utilitarian value
Published in
International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management
2015, volume: 11, number: 4, pages: 349-362
SLU Authors
Grandin, Ulf
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Associated SLU-program
SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre
Global goals (SDG)
UKÄ Subject classification
Public Administration Studies
Environmental Sciences
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2015.1050969
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/68923