Assessment of the Interactions between the Landscape and Natural Resource Social Values within the Framework of the Social-Ecological Landscape System

Landscape and natural resource social values (e.g. wilderness and aesthetic) provide essential benefits for human wellbeing. Understanding such community values are essential to predict human behaviours towards nature and also to develop relevant policies and management strategies. Accordingly, the purpose of this theoretical paper was to examine the cross-scale interactions between the landscape and natural resource social values within the framework of the social-ecological landscape system. In doing so, the objectives of the study were (i) to explore the concept and major landscape social values, (ii) to examine the theory and major natural resource social values, (iii) to evaluate the cross-scale interactions between both value systems, and (iv) to design a relevant theoretical framework. The method of the study was based upon the in-depth literature review concerning the landscape and natural resource social values, their typologies, and the potential valuation techniques. The assessment showed that the landscape and natural resource social values are important guiding principles to address a variety of ecological, economic, and socio-cultural benefits for human wellbeing. The typology of the landscape and natural resource social values comprised 16 and 13 major values respectively. However, the types and degrees of both value systems may vary based upon the characteristics of landscapes, ecosystems and associated natural resources, and social systems. The assessment also showed that the landscape and natural resource social values are interconnected through three value scales: spatial, temporal, and social scale. The results of this study can help landscape, land, and natural resource managers to better understand the major landscape and natural resource social values and their cross-scale interactions, which should be integrated into relevant policies and strategies to develop win-win solutions in terms of landscape and natural resource management.