Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on the consideration of cultural ecosystem services in public land and water management and policy decision making processes. Cultural ecosystem services are defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) as ⿿the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences.⿝ The ecosystems within which human cultures exist have always influenced the evolution of those cultures. At the same time, human systems continually shape their surrounding environment and modify the availability of certain valued services. While there are specific cultural ⿿⿿services⿿⿿ that ecosystems provide (such as aesthetic enjoyment, recreation, spiritual fulfillment, and intellectual development), it is difficult to separate these services or their combined influence on human well-being (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). The importance of cultural services and values is not easily integrated into landscape planning and management. Public land and water management decision making processes could benefit from a better understanding of the way in which societies manipulate ecosystems and then relate that to cultural, spiritual, and religious belief systems.

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