Abstract
The linkage between ecosystems and human well-being is a focus of the conceptualization of ``ecosystem services{''} as promoted by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. However, the actual nature of connections between ecosystems and the well-being of individuals remains complex and poorly understood. We conducted a series of qualitative focus groups with five different stakeholder groups connected to a small-scale Kenyan coastal fishery to understand (1) how well-being is understood within the community, and what is important for well-being, (2) how people's well-being has been affected by changes over the recent past, and (3) people's hopes and aspirations for their future fishery. Our results show that people conceive well-being in a diversity of ways, but that these can clearly map onto the MA framework. In particular, our research unpacks the ``freedoms and choices{''} element of the framework and argues for greater recognition of these aspects of well-being in fisheries management in Kenya through, for example, more participatory governance processes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1010-1021 |
Journal | Ambio |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 8, SI |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2013 |
Keywords
- Kenya
- fisheries
- well-being
- ecosystem services