¿Cambia la percepción sobre los servicios de los ecosistemas de los usuarios de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai frente a los del Cinturón Verde de Bilbao?

Abstract

In order to develop sustainable management strategies that benefit both society and the environment, it is essential to know the perception that society has about ecosystem services (ES). The aim of this study was to know the perception that users have about the supply and demand of ES in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (UBR), analyze their similarities or differences, and determine whether the assessment of the ES supplied showed differences depending on the ecosystem analyzed. For that, in 2015 100 surveys were carried out to UBR users in relation to the perception for supply and demand in different ecosystems. The results indicated that the most demanded ES were the conservation of biodiversity, the provision of water and food, the regulation of air quality and climate, and scientific knowledge. However, it was perceived that the ES most supplied were the conservation of biodiversity and cultural services, in general. Salt marshes and coastal habitats were perceived higher for the biodiversity conservation, aesthetic enjoyment of the landscape, recreation, and water regulation, while forest plantations and natural forests were perceived higher in relation to climate regulation and pollination. Despite, the relevance of natural forests in the supply of ES from a biophysical point of view, this was not perceived by the users, which indicate a need to increase environmental education on this topic.