Determining the values of soil‐mediated contributions to people: A comparative European perspective

Soil health is a fundamental element underpinning terrestrial ecosystems, yet it is persistently threatened by the ongoing process of land degradation, leading to detrimental impacts on human well‐being. However, there is a paucity of research on the extent to which humans are dependent on soils and the societal values attributed to their vital functions.

In accordance with the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) valuation framework, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the values and preferences attributed to soil‐mediated contributions to humans. The study employed a multifaceted approach, incorporating a socio‐cultural valuation, a discrete choice experiment and a landscape‐preferences assessment. With sample respondents from Denmark, Spain and Ireland, the objective of the study was to elicit the values and determinants of value from these countries and compare them across different geographical regions and methods. Specifically, we aimed to evaluate the extent to which socio‐demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and underlying value constructs influence these valuation outcomes.

The results of the analysis indicate more subtle differences in the values and preferences between the countries than for the determinants of the values.

While socio‐demographic characteristics exhibited certain trends in determining values, significant disparities in knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and underlying value constructs persisted, underscoring the intricacies and variability that shape values for soil‐mediated contributions to people.

While site‐ or region‐level approaches may offer a nuanced understanding, the results of this study provide a foundation for decision and policy makers to integrate the values and leverage their determinants, thereby fostering broader acceptance and enhancing the effectiveness of soil policies.