Ecological engagement determines ecosystem service valuation: A case study from Rouge National Urban Park in Toronto, Canada

Understanding stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services (ESs), and perceptions of threats to their conservation, can improve planning for urban protected areas. Our study objectives were to examine ES valuations by Rouge National Urban Park (NUP) users as well as perceptions of the impact of the invasive vine Vincetoxicum rossicum. Further, we sought to determine how those valuations and perceptions are affected by “ecological engagement” (EE). We conducted a social survey of Rouge NUP users and found that valuation of most ESs was significantly greater for EE users. Interestingly, non-EE users tended to give recreation ('cultural' ES) the highest importance value. Conversely, EE users tended to assign pollination ('supporting' ES), the highest importance. Further, we were surprised to find that 15.2% of EE and 38.4% of non-EE users disagreed or were neutral to the notion that V. rossicum is negatively impacting the Park's supporting ESs. Similarly, 32% of EE and 54.1% of non-EE users disagreed or were neutral to the notion that V. rossicum is negatively impacting the Park's aesthetic ESs. We conclude that examination of EE can reveal differential ES valuations and perceptions of invasion impact. Furthermore, we believe such examination can inform conservation management plans and public engagement strategies.