The Practical Fit of Concepts: Ecosystem Services and the Value of Nature

Abstract Conceptual innovations are a central feature of global environmental governance. Confronting degradation and unsustainability, scholars practitioners turn to new concepts identify, make sense of, chart directions towards meaningful governance solutions. But why do some create lasting changes institutions practices, while others not? Ideational theories international relations highlight the importance normative fit. In this paper we analyze concept ecosystem services show that fit is just one dimension fitness, which also includes practical fitness. Ecologists economists coined biodiversity conservation intelligible decision-makers versed in economic thinking. It has gained rhetorical traction, but ultimately failed change how treat nature because it lacks We interviewed fifty-six individuals working twelve organizations have sought translate into practice. Our analysis reveals forces limiting constraining institutional uptake at three levels analysis: structural, organizational, agent. present cautionary tale pushes carefully consider alongside when suggesting as organizing frames for govern challenges.