Mapping the spatial dynamics of perceived social value across the landscape can help develop a restoration economy that can support ecosystem services in the region. Many different methods have been used to map perceived social value. We used the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) GIS tool, version 3.0, which uses social survey responses and various environmental variables to map social value.
In the social survey distributed by the Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) in May 2017, the respondents were asked to consider twelve different social values and map locations on a map where they perceived those social values to be. Additionally, they were asked to weigh each social value using a total of 100 points, and could assign each social value anywhere from 0 to 100 points. A combination of the points, weighted social values, and environmental variables were used within the SolVES tool. The SolVES tool then produced raster outputs that visualize the value index range for each social value assessed using the SolVES tool.
This data release consists of two raster products. The first raster (SolVES multi-band raster) product consists of twelve bands, each band representing one of the twelve social values. The twelve total bands in this stacked raster are listed below, with the descriptions provided in the survey. The second raster product is a single band raster (SolVES summed raster) that shows the summed social value index for each pixel for the twelve social value rasters. Both raster products are clipped to the Sonoita Creek Watershed and represent the visual results of the SolVES tool.
1) aesthetic - ... I enjoy the aesthetics - scenery, sights, sounds, smells, etc. - within it,
2) biological diversity - ... it is home to such biological diversity,
3) cultural - ... it is a place of cultural value allowing me to pass down the knowledge, traditions, wisdom and way of life of myself and my ancestors,
4) economic - ... it is a place of economic value where I can earn a living,
5) future generations - ... I want future generations to be able to know, see and experience the watershed,
6) historical - ... it has historic value, with important places and things of natural and human history,
7) intrinsic - ... it has intrinsic value, irrespective of any instrumental value,
8) learning - ... because we can learn a great deal within it,
9) life sustaining - ... because it has life sustaining value through protecting and renewing clean air, soil, water etc.,
10) recreational - ... because it provides a place for my favorite outdoor recreation activities,
11) spiritual - ... because it has spiritual value to me in the form of sacred, religious, or spiritual or because I feel reverence and respect for nature there, and
12) therapeutic - ... because it has therapeutic value, making me feel better physically and/or mentally.
This data is used in the associated publication in the Air, Soil and Water Research. Petrakis, Roy E., Norman, Laura M., Lysaght, Oliver, Sherrouse, Benson C., Semmens, Darius, Bagstad, Kenneth J., Pritzlaff, Richard. 2020. “Mapping Perceived Social Values to Support a Respondent-Defined Restoration Economy: Case Study in Southeastern Arizona, USA” Air, Soil and Water Research. doi.org/10.1177/1178622120913318.
The abstract for the associated publication follows:
"Investment in conservation and ecological restoration depends on various socioeconomic factors and the social license for these activities. Our study demonstrates a method for targeting management of ecosystem services based on social values, identified by respondents through a collection of social survey data. We applied the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) geographic information systems (GIS)- based tool in the Sonoita Creek watershed, Arizona, to map social values across the watershed. The survey focused on how respondents engage with the landscape, including through their ranking of 12 social values (eg, recreational, economic, or aesthetic value) and their placement of points on a map to identify their associations with the landscape. Additional information was elicited regarding how respondents engaged with water and various land uses, as well as their familiarity with restoration terminology. Results show how respondents perceive benefits from the natural environment. Specifically, maps of social values on the landscape show high social value along streamlines. Life-sustaining services, biological diversity, and aesthetics were the respondents’ highest rated social values. Land surrounding National Forest and private lands had lower values than conservation-based and state-owned areas, which we associate with landscape features. Results can inform watershed management by allowing managers to consider social values when prioritizing restoration or conservation investments."
