The need for targeted restoration in regions where ecosystem integrity has become compromised is now widely recognised. Local community views, alongside those of other stakeholders, should be incorporated into transparent decision-making to ensure conservation/restoration activities are successful. We used a structured decision-making approach, working with stakeholders and local communities, to pose and answer the following question for Kenya’s Central Highlands: “what future land-use options [2030] are feasible for the study region, which is most preferable, how does this vary between different stakeholder groups, and what values drive these preferences?”. We engaged with 51 individuals from six stakeholder groups (Big Farms, Conservationists, Counties, Forest Users, Pastoralists, Smallholders). As individuals, the stakeholders held significantly different values for provisioning, cultural, regulation and maintenance ecosystem services. However, following consensus-building activities within the six groups, shared values and perspectives emerged. The future land-use option of habitat conservation/restoration was preferred by the majority of stakeholder groups, although one (Big Farms) favoured increased plantation forestry. Water resource management was also prioritised consistently. By using structured decision-making, we demonstrate that ecosystem restoration is compatible with the views and values of smallholders and forest users, as well as those with a direct interest in conservation. Structured decision-making processes can facilitate stakeholders with disparate views to work towards a consensus regarding future land-use options, aiding environmental planning and implementation.

中文翻译：

---

结构化决策显示不同利益相关者对肯尼亚中部高地栖息地保护和恢复的广泛支持


在生态系统完整性受到损害的地区，需要有针对性地进行恢复，这一点现在已得到广泛认可。应将当地社区的意见以及其他利益相关者的意见纳入透明的决策中，以确保保护/恢复活动取得成功。我们与利益相关者和当地社区合作，采用结构化的决策方法，为肯尼亚中部高地提出并回答了以下问题：“研究区域 [2030] 未来有哪些土地使用选项是可行的，哪个是最可取的，这在不同的利益相关者群体之间有何差异，以及哪些价值观驱动了这些偏好？我们与来自 6 个利益相关者群体（大型农场、环保主义者、县、森林使用者、牧民、小农）的 51 人进行了接触。作为个体，利益相关者在供应、文化、监管和维护生态系统服务方面持有截然不同的价值观。然而，在六个小组内开展共识建立活动后，出现了共同的价值观和观点。大多数利益相关者团体都倾向于选择栖息地保护/恢复的未来土地利用方案，尽管一个团体（大型农场）赞成增加人工林。水资源管理也始终被优先考虑。通过使用结构化决策，我们证明了生态系统恢复与小农和森林使用者以及那些对保护有直接利益的人的观点和价值观是一致的。结构化的决策过程可以促进持不同观点的利益相关者就未来的土地使用选择达成共识，从而有助于环境规划和实施。