Capturing IPBES diverse values of nature for EIA by surfacing community values: A demonstration in Nigeria

An identified gap in existing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) processes is neglect of human-nature interconnectedness: a lack of accommodation of less-tangible, cultural values of nature. This leads to poor mitigation outcomes and local discontent. Recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) established the crucial importance of consideration of diverse human-nature values and specifically intrinsic and relational values ones. This study explores the potential of a novel approach to capture such diverse values for input into EIA Scoping Stage: it starts with surfacing community values holistically, inclusive of less-tangible ones. We operationalize with a three-step process: (1) surfacing community shared values using a values crystallization method WeValue InSitu; (2) identifying values statements explicitly relating to human–nature relations; and (3) classifying those into instrumental, intrinsic, and relational IPBES categories. Field data collected with 17 local groups in Nigeria showed that all three IPBES value categories including hybrid forms were captured, suggesting usefulness of the approach, and a need to revise current valuation methods which assume instrumental values are dominant and sufficient for consideration. Retrospective analysis of previously published WeValue InSitu data from four other countries also identified relational values, suggesting generalizability. This proof-of-concept study took place outside of any EIA project, with research design for a subsequent study having this approach embedded in a formal EIA, and the impact of including diverse and thus relational values being tracked through all EIA Stages and the resulting Mitigation Measures, with careful consideration of operationalizability.