The Ripple Effect: Exploring the Impact of Ecosystem Service Degradation on Cultural Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) are intangible benefits from the ecosystems, and the 2003 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment notes that ecosystem service degradation disproportionately harms rural populations. This qualitative study assesses CES depletion in Salmora, Majuli, due to resource loss from annual floods and erosion by the Brahmaputra River. Findings state that the loss of CES due to the degradation of the natural environment and ecosystem services is sometimes irreversible. Traditional development models failed, and government’s apathy worsened resource degradation, harming human well-being. CES depletion often goes unnoticed as people struggle for livelihood amid floods and erosion, further jeopardizing their community.