Perception and Value Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Rural and Urban Regions in Ecuador

Land use/land cover (LULC) plays a vital role in the provision of ecosystem services. Changing natural vegetation to agricultural or urban uses affectss the socio-economic dynamics of the surrounding populations. Changing land use may also result in the impairment of ecosystem services. Rural and urban communities have different realities and perceptions on the importance of ecosystem services, which tend to vary by economic, generational, social, and cultural factors. This study assesses the subjective value of people in urban and rural communities on provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services. A quantitative and qualitative survey using interviews and spatial analysis with GIS is used to study ecosystem services. The survey evaluates the values, perceptions, and benefits of ecosystems in urban and rural regions. Environmental conservation plans that have been implemented on a national level and the traditional ecological activities that local communities play a crucial role in the governance of ecosystem services. There is a need to understand the effectiveness and awareness o actions resulting from governance regimes to be both applicable and useful in protecting ecosystem services in fragile and diverse ecosystems such as Ecuador