Bringing Justice into Ecosystem Services: Emerging Perspectives and Research
Johannes Langemeyer, a researcher at ICTA-UAB, is one of the editors of a special issue of the journal Ecosystem Services titled Equity and Justice in Ecosystem Services Research, which explores how fairness, diverse knowledge, and stakeholder voices shape the future of ecosystem services research.
This topic is highly relevant to many researchers at our institute, as it addresses critical questions about how biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services can contribute to human well-being in a fair and equitable way.
Equity and justice are increasingly recognized as central concerns in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and the long-term safeguarding of human well-being. This is reflected in global initiatives such as the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which place equity and justice at the heart of sustainable development and advocate for the fair sharing of nature’s benefits.
The special issue, co-edited by Johannes Langemeyer (ICTA-UAB), Felipe Benra, and Brenda Maria Zoderer, brings together research that explores how equity and justice are considered in ecosystem services studies. It includes articles that examine, among other topics:
- Recognition of diverse knowledge systems and the voices of different stakeholders.
- Critical assessments of how the ecosystem services framework handles equity and justice concerns.
- Case studies highlighting the fair distribution of nature’s benefits across social groups and communities.
This special issue provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in making ecosystem services research more inclusive and just.
Special issue: Equity and justice in ecosystem services research