Whose Cultural Ecosystem Service Values Matter?: Exploring Power Inequities in Diverse Mangrove Communities

Abstract Inequities and unequal power dynamics in the use and distribution of benefits that mangrove forests provide threaten vulnerable coastal regions, communities, and society. Assessing these inequities is challenging as there are difficulties in comprehending and conveying Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). CES are often contextualized as intrinsically derived, are seen as providing important non-monetary benefits or are lumped into a theoretical bucket for everything that does not fit into established categories or that cannot be easily quantified. Comprehending and conveying CES with nuance and establishing quantifiable benefits is even more difficult when considering different cultural values held within a community. We assessed perceptions of the cultural value of mangrove ecosystems in Bocas del Toro (BDT), Panamá via semi-structured interviews of individuals from culturally diverse groups utilizing two merged conceptual frameworks to highlight the coevolution of differential power dynamics with respect to CES. Three major CES themes were identified: mental health benefits, sense of identity, and inequity. Our findings reveal complex relationships between residents’ appreciation for mangrove environments and long-standing power inequities suggesting the need for CES studies to holistically consider different cultural values within communities. Importantly, our study supports the need for understanding sub-group and ethno-racial understandings of mangrove CES and illuminates the need for more equitable mangrove governance throughout BDT to ensure the protection of mangroves and their cultural benefits to all. Future studies should continue to explore CES frameworks that advance knowledge of locally derived CES benefits and that are inclusive of power and equity dynamics.