RECREATIONAL SERVICES WITHIN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, AND STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE USE

Recreation and leisure activities are vital aspects of a balanced life, as they offer a much-needed break from the routine stress of daily life, fostering both mental and physical well-being. Especially nowadays, people increasingly prefer recreational services in nature and ecosystems to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. At the same time, the increasing recreational desire within ecosystems can lead to habitat degradation, and unsustainable practices often threaten the ecological integrity of natural systems. Hence, given the increasing demand of recreational and leisure activities within the ecosystem and the need for sound knowledge to manage this demand, the study aims to examine the benefits, challenges, and sustainable management strategies related to the growing demand for recreational services within ecosystems. Using the integrative literature review approach, 78 Scopus-indexed journal articles were examined to achieve the intent of the review. The review revealed several recreational benefits and services in terms of physical, mental, social, economic, and environmental conservation. Conversely, the study found that demand for the recreational services within ecosystems contributes to their degradation. These findings provide potentially important information for decision-makers in developing effective recreational services and management strategies within ecosystems. The paper concludes that sustainable use of ecosystem services requires an integrated management approach that balances ecological preservation with social, cultural, and economic interests.