Same nature, different values: the relational dimension in the valuation of ecosystem services

Abstract

In recent decades, the ecosystem services approach has gained prominence in the field of environmental conservation by highlighting the connection between human well-being and ecosystem functions. However, critics have pointed out that the predominance of utilitarian and monetary assessments often overlooks the sociocultural and affective values that different social groups attribute to nature. This article explores the relational dimension in the valuation of ecosystem services through the experiences of the Quilombola communities of Cafundá Astrogilda and Dona Bilina, located in the Pedra Branca State Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The research adopted an interpretivist and sentipensante methodology, combining action research, interviews, and territorial immersion to understand the communities’ perceptions and values regarding nature. Building on the experiences investigated, this study contends that the ecosystem services framework must transcend utilitarian and monetary paradigms. Recognizing the centrality of relational values — such as care, reciprocity, ancestry, and spirituality — in shaping these communities’ relationships with the forest is essential for advancing equitable and enduring conservation efforts. By foregrounding practices and worldviews that conceive of nature as a principle of life, a locus of spiritual connection, and a source of knowledge, this research establishes the basis for a more integrated and pluralistic approach within the field. Such a perspective not only fosters the development of fairer and more culturally grounded conservation practices but also constitutes an act of intellectual decolonization — one capable of informing social policies and institutional decision-making toward the resolution of socio-environmental conflicts through the recognition of cultural and epistemic diversity.