The concept of heritage is full of conflicts and contestations. The UNESCO’s intervention in the form of the “World Heritage Convention” enriches the meaning of heritage but may exacerbate the intrinsic tensions in heritage while expanding its economic significance through tourism. Heritage tourism is an effective means to realize the economic potential of heritage. This is a major reason why developing countries like China apply for UNESCO world heritage designation. However, some stakeholders take more benefits while others bear more costs in the interplay of heritage conservation and tourism. Achievement of a balance among resource conservation, tourism development, and local community well-being is a pressing challenge for planning and management of World Heritage Sites. This research examines the implications of World Heritage designation for conservation of the world heritage and, particularly, for the lives of local people living in and around the site. It is argued that such people often bear the most costs while often being ignored or disadvantaged in terms of benefits. Sustainability of local life is interdependent with sustainability of heritage conservation and tourism. A key goal of heritage planning should be to mitigate heritage contestation and dissonance, and to sustain local people’s livelihoods and enhance their life quality. This would be conducive to the overall sustainability of the heritage resource. Using Mount Taishan, a UNESCO world heritage site in China, as a case study, employing a plan and implementation evaluation approach, and taking a community perspective, this thesis evaluates the plans for the world heritage site and their implementation from three perspectives: resource conservation, visitor experience and local well-being (particularly local involvement in, and benefit from tourism). A mixture of quantitative and qualitative research methods is used and the transferability and applicability of western heritage planning and evaluation methods to China is examined implicitly. It is shown that much attention has been placed on resource conservation on this world heritage site, although the desire for economic returns underpins the conservation. The resource integrity of the heritage mountain has been marred by the construction of several cable cars for tourism. The number of visitors keeps growing. However, visitor experiences are generally positive except for crowding during the high seasons and length of stay has decreased. Local involvement in decision making relating to heritage operations is low. Local involvement in the provision of tourism services is high but uneven, and usually under the organization of the village committees. Faced with land loss, displacement, and livelihood change, villagers are very positive toward and very much dependent on tourism as the major or sole means of making a living. The power-relations that are reflected in the heritage nexus are a key issue. As the most powerful stakeholder, the local government’s intervention produces high efficiency and also inequity. Short-term goals are sought, reflecting the short tenure of officials. Within this context, western heritage planning ideas, including the advocacy of community involvement and public participation, have met many challenges in China, although this could change with socio-political developments in China.

The concept of heritage is full of conflicts and contestations. The UNESCO’s intervention in the form of the “World Heritage Convention” enriches the meaning of heritage but may exacerbate the intrinsic tensions in heritage while expanding its economic significance through tourism. Heritage tourism is an effective means to realize the economic potential of heritage. This is a major reason why developing countries like China apply for UNESCO world heritage designation. However, some stakeholders take more benefits while others bear more costs in the interplay of heritage conservation and tourism. Achievement of a balance among resource conservation, tourism development, and local community well-being is a pressing challenge for planning and management of World Heritage Sites. This research examines the implications of World Heritage designation for conservation of the world heritage and, particularly, for the lives of local people living in and around the site. It is argued that such people often bear the most costs while often being ignored or disadvantaged in terms of benefits. Sustainability of local life is interdependent with sustainability of heritage conservation and tourism. A key goal of heritage planning should be to mitigate heritage contestation and dissonance, and to sustain local people’s livelihoods and enhance their life quality. This would be conducive to the overall sustainability of the heritage resource. Using Mount Taishan, a UNESCO world heritage site in China, as a case study, employing a plan and implementation evaluation approach, and taking a community perspective, this thesis evaluates the plans for the world heritage site and their implementation from three perspectives: resource conservation, visitor experience and local well-being (particularly local involvement in, and benefit from tourism). A mixture of quantitative and qualitative research methods is used and the transferability and applicability of western heritage planning and evaluation methods to China is examined implicitly. It is shown that much attention has been placed on resource conservation on this world heritage site, although the desire for economic returns underpins the conservation. The resource integrity of the heritage mountain has been marred by the construction of several cable cars for tourism. The number of visitors keeps growing. However, visitor experiences are generally positive except for crowding during the high seasons and length of stay has decreased. Local involvement in decision making relating to heritage operations is low. Local involvement in the provision of tourism services is high but uneven, and usually under the organization of the village committees. Faced with land loss, displacement, and livelihood change, villagers are very positive toward and very much dependent on tourism as the major or sole means of making a living. The power-relations that are reflected in the heritage nexus are a key issue. As the most powerful stakeholder, the local government’s intervention produces high efficiency and also inequity. Short-term goals are sought, reflecting the short tenure of officials. Within this context, western heritage planning ideas, including the advocacy of community involvement and public participation, have met many challenges in China, although this could change with socio-political developments in China.

Storgatan 2.0 is a study and design concept investigating the need for change of the main pedestrian street of the city of Växjö, in South Sweden. In order to propose a basis for discussions, and work as an inspiration for further renewal ideas, the design concept presents various, initial redesign visualisations of the site, Storgatan pedestrian street. The theoretical framework of this study leans on conducting urban studies with human-centred approach to city development. The exploratory research phase of the project was performed through several methods, including site observation, interview, and a survey for the local citizens. Also, relevant secondary research and necessary investigation of the context, Sweden, are part of the study. In the end, the project focuses on sorting and analysing the data, by using various visual thinking tools as a method. The outcome of the project is a proposal visualising the possibilities for Storgatan, based on the research results. The visualisations are not meant to provide detail-oriented final solutions, but defend the potential of Storgatan to become a stronger version of the main pedestrian street – an enjoyable, pedestrian-prioritised public place that is actively used and shaped by the citizens.

A intensa relação entre sistema econômico e ambiental é tema de discussões e análises de diversas áreas de estudo, mas foi com o surgimento da Economia Ambiental e, posteriormente, da Economia Ecológica que este tópico teve o seu destaque. Mesmo com diferenças substanciais ambas as áreas têm como um dos seus objetivos a identificação e quantificação dos recursos e processos naturais que apresentam utilidade humana, chamados atualmente de serviços ecossistêmicos, através da técnica de valoração ambiental. Dependendo de seu enfoque, a valoração ambiental pode apresentar cálculos e concepções diferentes. Basicamente, existem três esferas de valor dos serviços ecossistêmicos: a econômica, a ecológica e a sociocultural. Por questões metodológicas, de definição e, principalmente, de relutância em discutir questões socioculturais, a última esfera se apresenta pouco desenvolvida e aplicada. A motivação de modificar este quadro se encontra na busca de um melhor entendimento dos diferentes usos dos serviços ecossistêmicos, com destaque para os chamados serviços ecossistêmicos culturais, a fim de uma tomada de decisão que se baseie nas três esferas de valor. Assim, com o objetivo de contribuir para o desenvolvimento da faceta sociocultural da valoração dos serviços ecossistêmicos, o presente estudo foi construído. Para isso, foi proposta e testada uma nova metodologia que permite a identificação (Free listing) e valoração sociocultural (Índice de Saliência de Smith) dos serviços ecossistêmicos através das respostas de comunitários quando submetidos a um questionário semi-estruturado específico. O estudo foi conduzido na Comunidade do Marujá, situada na Ilha do Cardoso, litoral sul do Estado de São Paulo. No total, 53 moradores tradicionais (representando 88% das famílias) foram questionados sobre suas relações, utilitárias, pessoais e comunitárias, com o ecossistema de praia que ladeia a comunidade. Ao todo, 18 serviços ecossistêmicos foram identificados, alguns descritos pela primeira vez, e classificados em três categorias, uma delas também criada neste estudo. Numa análise geral, Alimento, Trabalho e serviços ecossistêmicos culturais, como Identidade de Lugar apresentam os valores mais altos. A utilização de Free listing em conjunto com o Índice de Saliência de Smith se mostrou uma metodologia interessante para a identificação e valoração dos serviços ecossistêmicos a partir do envolvimento de uma população local. Seus resultados são consistentes e permitem a comparação com outros estudos, além de poderem ser utilizados, juntamente com valores de outras esferas, para a composição de um quadro mais completo de tomada de decisão. / The intense relationship between economic and environmental systems has been discussed and analyzed in several areas of study, but it was with the advent of Environmental Economics and, subsequently, the Ecological Economics that this topic had its prominence. Even with substantial differences, both areas have as common objective, the identification and quantification of natural resources and processes that have human utility, also known as ecosystem services. This can be done by environmental valuation techniques. Depending on its approach, environmental valuation has different outcomes, methods and concepts. In general, there are three spheres of ecosystem services values: the economic, the ecological and the socio-cultural one. Because of methodological limitations, definition problems and, mainly, the reluctance in discussing cultural issues, the last sphere is poorly developed and applied. The motivation for modifying this situation is the search for a better understanding of ecosystem services\' different uses, with emphasis on the so-called cultural ecosystem services in order to take decisions that are based on the three spheres of value. Thus, with the objective of contributing to the development of the cultural sphere of ecosystem services valuation, the present study was constructed. A new methodology was therefore proposed and tested: this methodology allows the identification (Free-listing) and sociocultural valuation (Smiths Salience Index) of ecosystem services through the response of a community when submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire. The study was conducted in Marujá community, situated on the Cardoso Island, south coast of Sao Paulo State. In total, 53 traditional residents (representing 88% of households) were asked about their relationship, utilitarian, personal and community, with the community beach ecosystem. In all, 18 ecosystem services were identified. Some were described for the first time, and classified into three categories, one of which was also first assessed in this study. In a general analysis, \"Food\", \"Job\" and cultural ecosystem services, such as \"Sense of place\" have the highest values. The use of Free-listing in conjunction with the Smiths Salience Index appeared to be an interesting methodology for the purpose of identification and valuation of ecosystem services through local population. The results are consistent and allow comparison with other studies. In addition, it can be used together with other sphere values in order to compose a more complete framework for decision-making purpose.

A intensa relação entre sistema econômico e ambiental é tema de discussões e análises de diversas áreas de estudo, mas foi com o surgimento da Economia Ambiental e, posteriormente, da Economia Ecológica que este tópico teve o seu destaque. Mesmo com diferenças substanciais ambas as áreas têm como um dos seus objetivos a identificação e quantificação dos recursos e processos naturais que apresentam utilidade humana, chamados atualmente de serviços ecossistêmicos, através da técnica de valoração ambiental. Dependendo de seu enfoque, a valoração ambiental pode apresentar cálculos e concepções diferentes. Basicamente, existem três esferas de valor dos serviços ecossistêmicos: a econômica, a ecológica e a sociocultural. Por questões metodológicas, de definição e, principalmente, de relutância em discutir questões socioculturais, a última esfera se apresenta pouco desenvolvida e aplicada. A motivação de modificar este quadro se encontra na busca de um melhor entendimento dos diferentes usos dos serviços ecossistêmicos, com destaque para os chamados serviços ecossistêmicos culturais, a fim de uma tomada de decisão que se baseie nas três esferas de valor. Assim, com o objetivo de contribuir para o desenvolvimento da faceta sociocultural da valoração dos serviços ecossistêmicos, o presente estudo foi construído. Para isso, foi proposta e testada uma nova metodologia que permite a identificação (Free listing) e valoração sociocultural (Índice de Saliência de Smith) dos serviços ecossistêmicos através das respostas de comunitários quando submetidos a um questionário semi-estruturado específico. O estudo foi conduzido na Comunidade do Marujá, situada na Ilha do Cardoso, litoral sul do Estado de São Paulo. No total, 53 moradores tradicionais (representando 88% das famílias) foram questionados sobre suas relações, utilitárias, pessoais e comunitárias, com o ecossistema de praia que ladeia a comunidade. Ao todo, 18 serviços ecossistêmicos foram identificados, alguns descritos pela primeira vez, e classificados em três categorias, uma delas também criada neste estudo. Numa análise geral, Alimento, Trabalho e serviços ecossistêmicos culturais, como Identidade de Lugar apresentam os valores mais altos. A utilização de Free listing em conjunto com o Índice de Saliência de Smith se mostrou uma metodologia interessante para a identificação e valoração dos serviços ecossistêmicos a partir do envolvimento de uma população local. Seus resultados são consistentes e permitem a comparação com outros estudos, além de poderem ser utilizados, juntamente com valores de outras esferas, para a composição de um quadro mais completo de tomada de decisão. / The intense relationship between economic and environmental systems has been discussed and analyzed in several areas of study, but it was with the advent of Environmental Economics and, subsequently, the Ecological Economics that this topic had its prominence. Even with substantial differences, both areas have as common objective, the identification and quantification of natural resources and processes that have human utility, also known as ecosystem services. This can be done by environmental valuation techniques. Depending on its approach, environmental valuation has different outcomes, methods and concepts. In general, there are three spheres of ecosystem services values: the economic, the ecological and the socio-cultural one. Because of methodological limitations, definition problems and, mainly, the reluctance in discussing cultural issues, the last sphere is poorly developed and applied. The motivation for modifying this situation is the search for a better understanding of ecosystem services\' different uses, with emphasis on the so-called cultural ecosystem services in order to take decisions that are based on the three spheres of value. Thus, with the objective of contributing to the development of the cultural sphere of ecosystem services valuation, the present study was constructed. A new methodology was therefore proposed and tested: this methodology allows the identification (Free-listing) and sociocultural valuation (Smiths Salience Index) of ecosystem services through the response of a community when submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire. The study was conducted in Marujá community, situated on the Cardoso Island, south coast of Sao Paulo State. In total, 53 traditional residents (representing 88% of households) were asked about their relationship, utilitarian, personal and community, with the community beach ecosystem. In all, 18 ecosystem services were identified. Some were described for the first time, and classified into three categories, one of which was also first assessed in this study. In a general analysis, \"Food\", \"Job\" and cultural ecosystem services, such as \"Sense of place\" have the highest values. The use of Free-listing in conjunction with the Smiths Salience Index appeared to be an interesting methodology for the purpose of identification and valuation of ecosystem services through local population. The results are consistent and allow comparison with other studies. In addition, it can be used together with other sphere values in order to compose a more complete framework for decision-making purpose.