Assessing variation in the perception of urban ecosystem services at the sub-city level

Abstract

Assessing residents’ perceptions of urban ecosystem services (UESs) is crucial for incorporating it into environmental management. However, evaluations seldom consider variations in perceptions at sub-city scale. Our study demonstrates how UES perceptions varies at sub-city level through a case study in Beijing, China. We interviewed 550 residents of Beijing’s oldest and newest urban zones to obtain their perceptions of 10 UES types. We analysed participants’ responses using importance-performance analysis, optimal scale regression, and textual analysis. Results showed that residents confirmed the value of UES in both zones. However, differences existed in their perceptions of several UESs, reflecting different environmental problems between two zones. Additionally, education, gender, and age significantly affected residents’ perceptions. Residents in both zones prioritised greenery-expanding activities for improving UES performance. Based on these findings, we recommend that variances in UES perception be considered when managing urban ecosystems to improve its supply and contribute to human well-being.