In his latest article, Fish Futures Programme Co-Leader Marc Tadaki and his colleagues explore a new way to understand and communicate the value of nature in ways that respect local, place-based perspectives. It’s aimed at researchers, facilitators, and policymakers who want to better represent these unique values in decisions and policies.
Currently, nature’s value is often assessed using a process called “vertical subsumption.” This approach simplifies specific local values by fitting them into broad, general categories, which can strip away the unique, place-specific meanings.
Instead, the article suggests using a new approach called “horizontal portability.” This method keeps the unique, context-specific values intact while sharing them across different places, communities, and knowledge systems. The movement is “horizontal” because it treats different contexts as equally important, rather than forcing local values to fit into a single, overarching framework.
The article also discusses how research on the relationships between people and nature can support this approach. Finally, it offers practical recommendations for using horizontal portability to make research, policies, and actions more inclusive and respectful of local values.