Including values for non-market natural and cultural resources in decision processes present challenges to resource managers. This dissertation uses a place-based resource-driven approach to assess the values associated with non-market resources in a national park. Existing valuation methods produce reliable measures for market resources, but are criticized for their inability to express values beyond uni-dimensional monetary values. Expressed values of park visitors for the natural and cultural resources within a national park are analyzed in order to quantitatively depict multiple dimensions of value for each resource relative to all others. Resulting abstract value-spaces are used to depict stakeholder group values and illustrate shared and unique values that can aid in decision processes. Value spaces are also used to examine the effects of resource losses on expressed values. These are observed through potential impact scenarios and can inform long-range planning and adaptation efforts. This research finds that a two-dimensional value space, representing aesthetic and functional qualities of resources can be formed to depict the values for included resources relative to one another. A core set of resources commonly valued by all major stakeholder groups is easily identifiable. Direct comparisons of value spaces for groups provides clear distinctions between group values for specific resources. Finally, subjecting value spaces to resource loss scenarios, indicates consistent changes in values while patterns of resource values remain stable, which can be used in participation and in conflict resolution efforts. These findings provide previously unobservable insight regarding the similarities and differences of group values and value stability as resource managers seek public input, resolve conflicts and craft long-range resource plans. This methodology establishes a basic framework for assessing relative resource values, non-monetarily, and along multiple dimensions. Value spaces can be used to proactively inform planning and decision processes from initial problem identification, establishment of alternative solutions and through assessments of implementation.

Kaimo bendruomenių plėtros nuostatos kinta vis labiau ryškėjant tendencijoms kuo racionaliau panaudoti vietinius gamtos ir kultūros išteklius. Todėl atliktas tyrimas Plungės rajono kaimo vietovėje padėjo identifikuoti svarbiausius vietos gyventojų poreikius, atsižvelgiant į ekonominius, gamtinius ir kultūrinius faktorius. Respondentai pažymi, kad turi bendravimo problemų, dažnai būna neįdomus, neįvairus kultūrinis gyvenimas, nedraugiški žmonių tarpusavio santykiai. Šios problemos labai įtakoja visą kaimo kultūrą ir jo dvasinį paveldą. Magistro darbe pateikiamas kaimo aplinkos, paslaugų, kaimo problemų įvertinimas, gamtos ir kultūros paveldo Plungės rajone apžvalga ir jų panaudojimo galimybės kaimo bendruomenių plėtrai, bendruomenių projektiniai sumanymai. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados, kuriose pabrėžiama projektų, integruojančių įvairius kaimo bendruomenių poreikius, tinkamai panaudojant gamtos ir kultūros išteklius, įgyvendinimo svarba. Kaimo bendruomenių plėtra priklauso nuo tinkamo gamtos ir kultūros išteklių panaudojimo. / Attitudes towards rural communities development have been experiencing changes, which reveal a tendency of using local natural and cultural resources more effectively. For this purpose a research carried out in a settlement in Plungė district helped the authors of the paper identify the main needs of the local residents in terms of economic, natural and cultural factors. Respondents stressed that it is difficult to come into social contacts, often cultural life is uneventful and monotonous, relations among the people lack friendliness. The evaluation of the rural environment, services and problems is given in the master’s work, the natural and cultural heritage in Plungė district has been overviewed and plans for future undertakings by local community have been outlined. Provided conclusions stress the importance of the implementation of such projects which integrate different needs of rural communities and integrate natural and cultural resources. Development of the rural communities depend on the best using of the natural and cultural resources.