Quantification of evaluation methods of cultural ecosystem services using Statistical Database

Of the four types of ecosystem services, Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) is more difficult and underresearched than the others. Because people interact with nature in complex and diverse ways, CES cannot be explained as a direct benefit to people. Even at the national level, evaluation items and indicators for CES are not clear and common, so it is necessary to use data for a detailed review of indicators. This study aims to explore ways to apply quantitative data to CES assessments, thereby facilitating CES evaluations in national ecosystem service evaluations. We decided that, as one of these solutions, we could use the statistical data that the state had built. Among the data available nationally, national statistics are the most uniform and systematic. As for Korea's national statistics, a total of 191,215 kinds of statistics are open (as of June 2022) from 30 topics such as population and environment, central administrative agencies, local governments, financial institutions, public corporations and industrial complexes, research institutes, associations, and cooperatives. Only statistical data that were similar to the indicators of dual ecosystem service evaluation were extracted. This was then condensed into an indicator similar to CES. At this time, the difference between the CES indicator and other service indicators was based on 1) whether the CES indicator was covered in previous research, 2) whether it could act as an inclusive service such as local history, culture, religion, etc., and 3) whether the service benefits depended on human will. As a result, it was condensed into 100 statistics. Indicators of assessment found statistical data to assess landscape, health and healing, leisure recreation, and heritage, and no statistical data to assess educational value. Through this study, it is possible to quantify the evaluation method of cultural services, which is the most difficult to scientifically and quantitatively evaluate among ecosystem services. Through big data analysis, the evaluation status of international and national units can be checked, and the utilization of national statistical portals can be increased as objectified evaluation data. In addition, national statistical construction can be added with the information needed to achieve the country's comprehensive environmental plan and biodiversity goals.