Public perception on surface water-related ecosystem services in Romania

The general aim of the study is to analyse the public perception on the ecosystem services related to surface water (rivers and lakes). A specific objective was to assess the level of knowledge of the population on hydroclimatic phenomena and related services. The study is based on a survey including 22 examples of surface water-related ecosystem services that were listed in a questionnaire grouped in three major types: provisioning services (6), cultural services (9), and regulating and supporting services (7).  A total of 254 local residents living river or lake side were interviewed face-to-face in Southern and Eastern Romania, in both urban and rural communities. The residents had to choose from the list those ecosystems services characterizing the neighbouring surface water. The answers showed that 20% of these local residents considered ecosystem services such as climate regulation (temperature, noise), air quality regulation (carbon sequestration) or flood risk control as being characteristic for their nearby environment. Among regulating and supporting services, the role of surface water on the biodiversity production and habitat appears to be more obvious (with up to 60% of answers) than local climate related effects. Moreover, regulating and supporting services were pinpointed by a lower number of residents when compared to provisioning services or even cultural services, respectively 40%, 61% and 51%. We concluded on a poor knowledge on hydroclimatic phenomena/processes and the ecosystem services they provide that should be countered by education based on scientific proofs, but also science popularisation.