Linking ecosystem functions and human wellbeing as a societal need is nothing new. Since 1930 at least, ecologists and nature conservationists have tried to combine ecological knowledge and societal demands to strengthen their societal positions. The terminology of ecological functions, goods and services has gained in influence in recent decades, stimulated by international conferences on climate change and biodiversity. This does not mean, however, that these terms are clear and robust. In this paper I will try to clarify these terms in several ways. A brief historical reconstruction of nature conservation will be presented, illustrated by the development of National Parks. Second, a review will be given of empirical social studies focusing on the appreciation of nature. Finally a conceptual framework will be offered to link ecological functions and visions on nature.

Results/Conclusions

The historical reconstruction of the rise of the nature conservation movement and National Parks reveals a wide range of ecological and other arguments for legitimization purposes. Initially, the focus was on the importance of nature conservation for ecology and science in general, while later, after 1950, more attention was paid to the importance of ecology for nature conservation. Since the 1970s there has been a clear shift in vocabulary towards ecosystem functions and services. Our empirical studies on Dutch nature conservation show that people are willing to protect nature and to respect ecosystem functions or services. However, more important here is the variety in the precise meaning that certain societal groups such as farmers, conservationists and tourists attribute to nature and ecosystem functions. The appreciation of nature appears to be dependent on the characteristics of landscapes and species, esthetical, ethical and economic valuations and the specific societal context. In addition, the meaning and appreciation of ecosystem functions is dependent on the amount of knowledge and the chosen theoretical ecological perspective, for instance more or less focus on processes or structures or on species or systems. Lists of functions and services probably do not stimulate willingness to protect nature, but visions on nature do determine the appreciation of certain ecosystem functions and services. To be able to use the terms ecosystem functions and ecosystem services appropriately and successfully, we need a new conceptual scheme that not only includes all the different types of functions, services and aspects of human wellbeing, but also different visions or perspectives on nature and ecology and the relationships between these aspects.