The ecology of wellbeing: How ecosystem services enhance the wellbeing of New Zealanders

Abstract

Most research on ecosystem services has focused on the supply side of the supply–demand equation – what are ecosystem services, and how to classify, value and manage them to protect supply. These approaches are generally based on the assumption that if people only understood how much they depend on ecosystem services and how valuable they are to them, they would do more to protect them. This assumption does not take into account human behaviour – we may know something but often do not act consistently with that knowledge, especially if we believe that acting otherwise will enhance our wellbeing, particularly in the short term. Yet if we do nothing about continuing growth in demands on the systems that provide these services, our efforts to protect the supply will be as futile as trying to turn back the tide. A greater focus on what is driving our demand for ecosystem services—a desire for enhanced wellbeing – and the linkages between wellbeing and the quality and use of ecosystem services is therefore timely. This paper reports on a recent study funded by the New Zealand Department of Conservation that explores the relationship between wellbeing and ecosystem services. For each of the nine fundamental human needs recognized by Max-Neef (1991) – subsistence, protection, affection, participation, understanding, leisure, creation, identity and freedom – we examined the diverse ways in which ecosystem services contribute to the satisfaction of these needs, leading to enhanced wellbeing. The choices we make about how to satisfy our needs have an impact on both how much wellbeing we achieve and how much impact we have on ecosystem services. Encouraging discussion about the sources of wellbeing and recognition that there are a variety of ways (with varying effectiveness and impacts on nature) of satisfying those needs, allows us to explore how we might achieve the ‘double dividend’ of enhanced wellbeing and flourishing ecosystem services.