ABSTRACT
The concept of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) was introduced by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) in 2005 to recognize and value the intangible benefits connected to nature use. CES include spiritual, recreational, and educational services that significantly contribute to human well-being. Despite its initial intention to balance economic development with social and environmental needs, the CES concept faces many critiques, some of which relate to the difficult applicability of current valuation methods to the subjective and intangible dimensions involved. This chapter explores the implications of CES in the context of leisure and tourism, particularly from a Latin American perspective. It criticizes the neoliberal, market-oriented approaches that dominate current tourism and leisure narratives, highlighting their potential adverse impacts on local communities and ecosystems. The chapter emphasizes the need for a counter-hegemonic perspective for CES, with a focus on the local community dynamics and cultural diversity. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach rooted in ongoing research in Brazil, this chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of CES, advocating for equitable tourism and sustainable leisure practices in order to ensure potential social benefits and biodiversity conservation safeguards.
