Partner from University of Ljubljana and University of Padua has completed two key studies exploring how different groups in Slovenia and Italy perceive, value, and relate to the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Northern Adriatic. The research focused on Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) and the development of an Ethical Matrix (EM) to support fair and informed marine governance.
Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES): The Sea as Identity, Heritage, and Knowledge
The CES study reveals that the sea is far more than a natural resource—it is a powerful space of identity, symbolism, and community connection. Stakeholders highlighted:
- Symbolic values as the strongest dimension, reflecting emotional attachment, sense of place, and cultural identity.
- Educational value, with the sea seen as a “living classroom” that fosters awareness and long-term environmental responsibility.
- Heritage value, especially linked to fishing and salt-making traditions, which communities view as essential to preserve for future generations.
- Existence and bequest values, showing strong ethical commitment to protecting the sea for its intrinsic worth and for those who will come after us.
Based on the identified Cultural Ecosystem Services, we also developed a poster that visually presents the key benefits and values, helping to communicate them more clearly to a wider audience.
These diverse perspectives underline the importance of integrating non-material values into marine management to ensure more inclusive and sustainable decision-making.
Ethical Matrix (EM): A Tool for Fair and Transparent Marine Governance
The Ethical Matrix developed within the project provides a structured overview of the needs, interests, and values of various stakeholder groups. Built through focus groups and an online survey, it brings together social, ecological, and animal welfare considerations relevant to marine conservation.
The EM helps decision-makers (1) Identify shared values and common ground. (2) Recognize conflicting demands and (3) Support transparent, informed, and fair conservation strategies.
Findings show that people strongly value the sea for its non-material benefits and call for more participatory, better-coordinated marine governance, highlighting that conservation is fundamentally a matter of fairness.
