New article published on coastal cultural ecosystem services

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new open access, peer-reviewed article in  journal “Ecosystems and People” – “Linking coastal cultural ecosystem services to human well-being and leisure preferences: insights from the Baltic Sea region.”  The study, based on the results of Interreg MAREA project, was conducted by Baltic Environmental Forum-Latvia experts in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Tartu. It examines how people in Latvia and Estonia interact with coastal environments and the wide range of cultural ecosystem services (CES) they provide.

Based on public participation GIS (PPGIS) survey data from 1381 recreational users, the research demonstrates how different types of coastlines support different leisure activities and contribute to human well-being.

The PPGIS data were utilized to map spatial patterns of CES use, assess the perceived suitability of various coastal ecosystem related factors for recreational activities, and link these activities to human well-being benefits. Results reveal that the diversity of coastal ecosystem shapes recreational uses, with Estonia’s highly indented and diverse coastline supporting a wider array of activities compared to Latvia’s predominantly sandy shores. Coastal CES provide diverse range of perceived well-being benefits, with both passive and active interactions with the coast contributing to mental and physical health, though the benefits vary across different CES. The study highlights the need to integrate participatory CES assessments into coastal planning to balance social and cultural values with other development interests, supporting holistic, evidence-based management strategies for Baltic Sea ecosystems and beyond.

Read the full article here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393870062_Linking_coastal_cultural_ecosystem_services_to_human_well-being_and_leisure_preferences_insights_from_the_Baltic_Sea_region