Ecosystem Services
Volume 40, 2019

Cultural ecosystem services and the well-being of refugee communities (Review)

Gladkikh T.M.* , Gould R.K. , Coleman K.J.
  • a Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, United States, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 617 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
  • b Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, United States, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 617 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405, United States, Environmental Program, University of Vermont, 153 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States
  • c Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, United States, Center for Earth and Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, United States

Abstract

The growing field of research into cultural ecosystem services (CES) explores nonmaterial benefits that people receive from ecosystems. These studies have, however, largely overlooked refugee communities. To reduce this gap, we systematically review academic literature on refugee interactions with ecosystems to understand what cultural ecosystem services refugees may experience, and how these services affect their well-being. The results identify a broad range of CES that refugees experience, even though studies do not use CES terminology. Benefits include social relations, mental health, cultural heritage, education, recreation, identity, sense of place, aesthetic, spirituality, perspective, and existence value. Results also show that the majority of studies of refugee—ecosystem interactions occur in agricultural ecosystems. Findings suggest that interactions with ecosystems may ease the resettlement process and overall well-being, including mental health, in many ways. These findings enrich understanding of CES experienced by people of diverse (and in this case traumatic) backgrounds and provide practical implications for those who work in the field of refugee resettlement. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Author Keywords

resettlement Social relations Parks Cultural heritage Gardens Mental health

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073944170&doi=10.1016%2fj.ecoser.2019.101036&partnerID=40&md5=005afecf260da64671ad3223da927d89
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.101036
ISSN: 22120416
Original Language: English