Green gentrification drives socio-cultural shifts from provisioning to cultural valuation of ecosystem services

Abstract

Gentrification influences the social distribution of Ecosystem Services (ES) which can affect their use, perception and valuation, and lead to socio-ecological conflicts. This is particularly evident in coastal urban areas, where local underprivileged communities depending on ES for their livelihoods are often displaced due to real estate and tourism activities. Here, we analyse the use, perception and valuation of ES regarding the socio-economic status in a gentrified coastal area in Uruguay with an ongoing plan of urban transformation. We combined semi-structured interviews, participatory observation and mapping, for the identification, valuation, frequency of use, main pressures and trade-offs of ES. We evidenced a contrasting use and valuation of ES between neighbourhoods of different socio-economic status. Affluent neighbourhoods mainly recognized cultural-recreational ES, with sporadic use during summertime. Contrarily, residents of underprivileged areas identified a wider range of ES, used all year long, and had a higher valuation of provisioning ES due to their high dependence for basic needs. Accelerated gentrification, driven by the local urban management plan might exacerbate ES distributive inequities, and raise environmental justice concerns due to the restricted access to ES by the highly reliant underprivileged residents. This might induce a homogenisation in the use and valuation of ES towards cultural-recreational ones, more used and valued by affluent users. We emphasise the need for inclusive urban planning that acknowledges and integrates the diverse values and dependencies on ES across different socio-economic groups, to ensure sustainable and equitable development, preserve local livelihoods, and maintain ecological integrity.