TY - JOUR

T1 - Why conserve biodiversity?

T2 - A multi-national exploration of stakeholders’ views on the arguments for biodiversity conservation

AU - Berry, Pam M.

AU - Fabók, Veronika

AU - Blicharska, Malgorzata

AU - Bredin, Yennie K.

AU - Llorente, Marina García

AU - Kovács, Eszter

AU - Geamana, Nicoleta

AU - Stanciu, Adina

AU - Termansen, Mette

AU - Jääskeläinen, Tiina

AU - Haslett, John R.

AU - Harrison, Paula A.

PY - 2016/7/4

Y1 - 2016/7/4

N2 - Given the concern about biodiversity loss, there are a number of arguments used for biodiversity conservation ranging from those emphasising the intrinsic value of biodiversity to those on the direct use value of ecosystems. Yet arguing the case for biodiversity conservation effectively requires an understanding of why people value biodiversity. We used Q methodology to explore and understand how different conservation practitioners (social and natural science researchers, environmental non-Governmental organisations and decision-makers) in nine European countries argue for conservation. We found that there was a plurality of views about biodiversity and its conservation. A moral argument and some arguments around the intrinsic and ecological value of biodiversity were held by all stakeholder groups. They also shared the view that species valuation does not justify the destruction of nature. However, there were also some differences within and between the groups, which primarily reflected the espousal of either ecocentric or anthropocentric viewpoints. Our findings suggest that moral arguments and those around biodiversity’s intrinsic and ecological value could potentially serve as a starting point for building consensus among conservation practitioners.

AB - Given the concern about biodiversity loss, there are a number of arguments used for biodiversity conservation ranging from those emphasising the intrinsic value of biodiversity to those on the direct use value of ecosystems. Yet arguing the case for biodiversity conservation effectively requires an understanding of why people value biodiversity. We used Q methodology to explore and understand how different conservation practitioners (social and natural science researchers, environmental non-Governmental organisations and decision-makers) in nine European countries argue for conservation. We found that there was a plurality of views about biodiversity and its conservation. A moral argument and some arguments around the intrinsic and ecological value of biodiversity were held by all stakeholder groups. They also shared the view that species valuation does not justify the destruction of nature. However, there were also some differences within and between the groups, which primarily reflected the espousal of either ecocentric or anthropocentric viewpoints. Our findings suggest that moral arguments and those around biodiversity’s intrinsic and ecological value could potentially serve as a starting point for building consensus among conservation practitioners.

KW - Conservation practitioners, Ecological value, Ecosystem services, Intrinsic value, Q-methodology, Utilitarian value

U2 - 10.1007/s10531-016-1173-z

DO - 10.1007/s10531-016-1173-z

M3 - Journal article

JO - Biodiversity and Conservation

JF - Biodiversity and Conservation

SN - 0960-3115

ER -