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Issue: Contributions of land to human life - Non-materials benefits from the land

This is an issue under the Land theme of the Data Reporting System.

Why we need to know about this issue

In addition to the material necessities and benefits that the land contributes to human life, it also contributes a range of non-material values that can be generally characterised as spiritual or heritage-related, aesthetic or recreational. These are the values that arise from our sense of identity and belonging, from our need to understand our relationship with the rest of life and the universe, and from our enjoyment of natural beauty and of the physical and mental challenges of engaging with natural forces. However, this enjoyment of the land can also place pressure on it.

Environmental degradation can erode these benefits and accessing these benefits can itself contribute to environmental degradation. It is important to track whether the contribution of the land to the non-material aspects of human well-being (as well as its contribution of physical necessities and material benefits) is being maintained or increased while responses are undertaken to ensure that environmental pressures are reduced and environmental condition maintained or improved.

To have the full story, it is therefore important to track not only what is happening to the pressures, the resulting condition of the land and the societal responses but also what is happening to the contribution.

Indicators

• LD-13 Value of and numbers participating in landscape-based tourism and recreation 
  The number of people paying for activities which allow them to enjoy the natural land environment, and the amount they are willing to pay to do so, is a partial indicator of the value of the non material contribution of the land to human life.
• BD-25 Tourism activities based in areas of high biodiversity significance 
  The number of people seeking land based recreation which involves biodiversity value is indicative of the contribution of the land to human life.

Related issues

• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Non-material values benefits (heritage, recreation, aesthetic and spiritual) 
• Biodiversity - Utilisation and value of biodiversity- Tourism 
• Human Settlements - Liveability of human settlements- Recreation 
• Human Settlements - External pressures on human settlements- Tourism