TY - JOUR
T1 - An evaluation of local, national and international perceptions of benefits and threats to nature in Tierra del Fuego National Park (Patagonia, Argentina)
AU - Mrotek, Aaron
AU - Anderson, Christopher B.
AU - Valenzuela, Alejandro E.J.
AU - Manak, Leah
AU - Weber, Alana
AU - Van Aert, Peter
AU - Malizia, Mariano
AU - Nielsen, Erik A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2019.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - SummaryEnvironmental scientists and managers increasingly recognize that socio-cultural evaluations expand the understanding of human-nature relationships. Here, user groups' perceptions of the benefits from and threats to nature were analysed in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. We hypothesized that the different relationships of users to this place would lead to significantly different valuations among local Ushuaia residents (n = 122), Argentine nationals (n = 147) and international tourists (n = 294). All users perceived a broad spectrum of benefits. The three groups assessed intrinsic and relational values more highly than instrumental benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean valuation of benefits by Argentine visitors. Overall, threats were less perceived than benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean threat assessment by Ushuaia residents. To explain these relationships, we found that mean valuations of benefits and threats were weakly related to increased biodiversity knowledge for residents and international tourists, but not for Argentine visitors. These findings can orient environmental management in Patagonia and elsewhere by identifying areas where information can improve user experiences and by contributing a more pluralistic understanding of nature from multiple stakeholders.
AB - SummaryEnvironmental scientists and managers increasingly recognize that socio-cultural evaluations expand the understanding of human-nature relationships. Here, user groups' perceptions of the benefits from and threats to nature were analysed in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. We hypothesized that the different relationships of users to this place would lead to significantly different valuations among local Ushuaia residents (n = 122), Argentine nationals (n = 147) and international tourists (n = 294). All users perceived a broad spectrum of benefits. The three groups assessed intrinsic and relational values more highly than instrumental benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean valuation of benefits by Argentine visitors. Overall, threats were less perceived than benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean threat assessment by Ushuaia residents. To explain these relationships, we found that mean valuations of benefits and threats were weakly related to increased biodiversity knowledge for residents and international tourists, but not for Argentine visitors. These findings can orient environmental management in Patagonia and elsewhere by identifying areas where information can improve user experiences and by contributing a more pluralistic understanding of nature from multiple stakeholders.
KW - coupled human-nature systems
KW - ecosystem services
KW - nature's contributions to people
KW - protected area management
KW - social imaginary
KW - tourism
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U2 - 10.1017/S0376892919000250
DO - 10.1017/S0376892919000250
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85071014415
SN - 0376-8929
JO - Environmental Conservation
JF - Environmental Conservation
ER -