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. 2019 Apr 22;14(4):e0215715. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215715

Table 5. Arguments supplied by respondents to explain why the ecosystem services were important to them, classified according to the value dimensions derived by Rolston and Coufal [61].

Ecosystem services Aesthetics Economic Education/research Biological Spiritual Cultural identity Environmental / Ecological Recreational Scarcity Personal benefit Example of reasons given for justifying the importance of ecosystem services
Food derived from traditional agriculture 0% 41% 0% 0% 0% 18% 0% 0% 0% 41% Economic and personal benefit: "For sale and auto-consumption", Cultural identity: “Way of life that should be preserved”.
Symbolic plants 0% 5% 11% 21% 5% 26% 21% 0% 0% 11% Cultural identity: "Vegetation has a patrimonial value", "plants maintain traditions”, “school children should know and value plants as a form of identity". Biological: “Endemic plants contribute to hydrological cycle”.
Drinking water 0% 2% 10% 7% 0% 7% 15% 0% 34% 24% Scarcity and personal benefit: “We have had the well for 14 years and have spent entire seasons without water”, Scarcity: “the drought has lasted 5 years”, “It is vital especially now because of the drought”. Environmental: “The absence of water will cause disequilibrium”, “we should avoid drying plants and trees”.
Water for agriculture 0% 37% 5% 0% 0% 0% 5% 0% 53% 0% Scarcity: "little precipitation", "scarce resource". Economic: "last year we planted half less due to drought".
Water regulation 0% 11% 0% 26% 0% 7% 48% 0% 7% 0% Environmental: "plant and animal communities depend on this service", "flora and fauna need water". Environmental: "Mediterranean forests maintain water". Economical: “Agricultural use”.
Conservation value of threatened animal and plant species 3% 10% 7% 37% 0% 7% 30% 0% 7% 0% Biological: "Because there are unique species that have been recognized as endangered species". Environmental: "Conservation for balance, nature is balance, anything against nature triggers an imbalance". Biological: "to maintain a genetic pool". Economic: “well-preserved components such as animals and plants give an aggregated value to the area for the development of different activities (e.g., tourism)”.
Fresh air and climate change control 3% 0% 10% 6% 0% 0% 48% 0% 0% 32% Environmental: "Desertification is slowing down native species conservation", "the earth requires an oxygen lung ". Personal benefit: "delicious forest air", "breathe fresh air", "clean lungs".
Beekeeping 0% 25% 0% 13% 0% 6% 25% 0% 6% 25% Environmental: "It is linked to the ecosystem, without this service the environment could not be developed", "pollination benefit". Economic: “economic support”, “Profitable sources of income”. Personal benefit: “I like honey, I like the local honey production”.
Educational value 0% 0% 0% 16% 0% 20% 64% 0% 0% 0% Environmental: "To know the ecosystem where we live", Biological: "To learn about birds and the environment", “plants and animal recognition”, "Education for conservation". Cultural identity: "Education about the rural environment", "It is linked with identity and relations between people and their territory".