PERCEPTION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF WETLANDS: APPLICATION OF THE RAWES PROTOCOL IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL
Keywords:
Constructed wetlands, wetlands, ecosystem services, rapid assessment, Ramsar ConventionAbstract
The conservation of aquatic ecosystems, whether natural or built, play an important role in providing ecosystem services to communities at different scales and in different contexts. The Ramsar Convention has developed a tool, the Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) protocol, to assist in the management and sustainable use of these areas by assessing community perceptions. In this study, the RAWES protocol was applied for the first time in Brazil to assess the ecosystem services provided by an artificial wetland in São Leopoldo, RS, southern Brazil, using an online questionnaire and a visit to the target site by volunteer assessors appointed recruited via pre-established networks. The main services identified were water purification, nutrient cycling and the provision of cultural benefits such as education and research. These services were shown to have significant impacts on the local scale, including climate regulation and the reduction of visual and noise pollution. The results of the study indicate that the RAWES protocol is an effective, quick to apply and low-cost tool for assessing wetlands, providing a sound basis for developing public policy aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of these ecosystems. The research also highlights the importance of local community engagement and awareness in maximizing ecosystem benefits and promoting environmental sustainability.
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