Identifying forest ecosystem services through socio-ecological bundles: a case study from northern Jordan

Abstract

This study aims to identify services provided by forest ecosystems based on locals’ perceptions in the northern part of Jordan. By better understanding preferences of locals and by understanding why they value certain services more heavily, policy-makers and planning managers can make more effective decisions regarding development and conservation. Three hundred respondents were interviewed in order to collect information about forest ecosystem services (ES). Data collection was conducted using a structured questionnaire regarding ES provided by three forest types situated in northern Jordan. ES trade-offs and socio-ecological bundles were identified by analyzing respondents’ socioeconomic demographics and preferences of forest ES through multivariate canonical corresponding analysis (CCA). The statistical analysis indicated that the socioeconomic factors and forest type have an effect on social preferences toward ES. Results displayed a clear trade-off between provisioning services and regulating and cultural services. CCA demonstrated that 73% of the variation in ES value is explained by social factors (i.e. education level, income level, and gender), while 26% of perception variation was attributable to categories of ES supplied by each forest ecosystem. These findings imply that involving people in the place-specific management of public forests using the ES approach gives managers a clearer understanding of the benefits people recognize and value, as well as those they either are not aware of or do not value. Such information is useful in forest management and in public outreach. Although direct policy applications are limited by the research’s nature, the paper provides a starting point for incorporating forest users’ voices into policy discussions and management design.

Keywords:

• socio-ecological bundles
• forests
• ecosystem services
• policy
• Jordan

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali, the founder of the Royal Botanic Garden in Jordan, for her continuous support for the conservation of plant biodiversity and related research. Thanks to Abdul Hameed Shoman Fund for Supporting Scientific Research in Jordan for their kind financial support of the study. We are also grateful to the University of Jordan, scientific research fund [grant number 1441] for providing the support of field trips. Thanks are also extended to Yolla Alasmar and Marwan Alraqqad for preparing the map using the GIS tools. We are very grateful for the informants of the villages surrounding the three forest types who provided us time and information.

Notes

1. This paper is one of a series of papers produced by a joined funded project by the University of Jordan and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Fund for Supporting Scientific Research.