Lessons from the integrated valuation of ecosystem services in a developing country: Three case studies on ecological, socio-cultural and economic valuation

- We present experiences of integrated valuation in a developing country.
- We present a methodology to identify interactions between natural and social systems.
- There is still a challenge to science to influence policy and decision making.
- Low participation, low access to information and conflict complicate integrated valuation.
- Integrated valuation enhance community's governance on ecosystems they depend on.

Over the last decades a large body of literature has been established on the theoretical and methodological development of the economic valuation of ecosystem services and its application in different contexts. More recently, this literature has proposed the need to carry out integrated valuations in order to inform decision-making processes. An integrated valuation allows for the ecological, socio-cultural and economic values of an ecosystem to be identified. This paper explores the experiences of three integrated valuation of ecosystem services in Colombia. Based on the presented case studies, some lessons and challenges on the development of integrated valuation methodologies are discussed.