Relevance of community perceptions in mapping cultural ecosystem services: Lessons from bio-cultural landscape of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha

The narrative surrounding coastal and marine conservation has largely focused on ecosystem services, viewing nature as a provider of benefits, to shape management practices worldwide. However, there has been a lack of emphasis on the bidirectional relationship between coastal communities and these ecosystems. This includes the Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) or non-material values they encompass, namely how local populations interact with, perceive, and sustain these coastal seascapes. The present study aimed to explore and understand the relevance of community perceptions for CES within Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (BKWS) in Odisha. Employing a Public-Participatory Geographical Information System (PPGIS) approach, we engaged 119 local stakeholders to identify and evaluate non-material values associated with the landscape. The survey encompassed socio-demographic information, ecosystem services derived from different production landscapes, awareness about the landscape changes, and valuation of CES, including cultural disservices. The residents identified 59 locations depicting 6 landscape values. Using interpolation techniques, six maps were computed to spatially characterize the diverse CES perceived by coastal communities. Results highlighted the importance of non-material benefits, with religious and aesthetic values being particularly significant. Regression analysis indicated that factors such as age, gender, etc. significantly influenced the appreciation of non-material values. Hotspot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi∗) identified areas of concentrated CES across varied production landscapes. By aligning community priorities with ecological objectives, the study provides a model with replication potential for sustainable mangrove management that can contribute to coastal conservation and mangrove restoration goals by promoting the synergy of ecological resilience and cultural preservation in coastal governance.