An Analysis of Public Complaints to Evaluate Ecosystem Services

Reducing the demands placed on ecosystems can maximize the benefits they provide. Therefore, this study examines public complaints about the environment to analyze the pressure placed on the ecosystem spatially and temporally. Environment-related public complaints filed in the city of Namyangju were examined. The city sources its water from the Han River and is poised to implement a payment system for ecosystem services. Many complaints were filed regarding noise and oscillation, dust scattering, wildlife, air quality management, and water quality management. The complaints indicated that the public were inconvenienced by the regulation of services and service-support: scattered dust affected the downtown area all year, while noise and oscillation, as well as problems with air quality, were prevalent mainly during the summer. Measures should be adopted to address the peculiarities of each issue. This study suggests that areas in which wild boars are active should be separated from areas of human activity and that pollutants need to be prevented from reaching the waterfront. Measures should be developed to address the negative factors and maximize ecosystem benefits. Analyzing public complaints about the environment can lead to the establishment of local plans to maximize ecosystem services.