Impact mechanism of ecosystem services on resident well-being under sustainable development goals: A case study of the Shanghai metropolitan area

Understanding the intricate connections between ecosystem services (ESs) and resident well-being (RWB) is critical to managing ESs and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, it is difficult to quantify the impact mechanism between different ESs and RWB. We constructed a theoretical framework to analyze the impact mechanism of ESs on RWB under SDGs. We sought to quantify the spatiotemporal characteristics of ESs and RWB in Shanghai at the district scale and then explored the impact mechanism of ESs on RWB using a structural equation model (SEM). Results show that habitat quality, carbon storage capacity, food availability, and cultural services declined from 2000 to 2020. The level of RWB in the central urban area was higher than that in the suburbs. Material satisfaction grew in most districts but declined somewhat in Huangpu, Chongming. Spiritual fulfillment declined in most districts while it increased in Changning, Hongkou, and Pudong. Health and social relations improved in most districts, but the safety in suburbs has decreased. Supporting services directly promoted regulating services and cultural services but inhibited provisioning services. Cultural services had a negative impact on regulating services and provisioning services. Regulating services promoted provisioning services and suppressed cultural services while provisioning services promoted cultural services greatly and suppressed regulating services. Regulating and cultural services directly promoted the RWB, and provisioning services had an inhibitory effect on it. Supporting services indirectly promoted the RWB by promoting regulating and cultural services, while it suppressed the provisioning services to reduce the negative impact on RWB, it is crucial for improving RWB. Accordingly, we proposed several spatially targeted ecological measures. Community ecological parks should be constructed to promote the variety, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems in downtown areas. Supporting services should be improved by targeting habitat quality capacity to manage and restore the ecological environment. The cultural and tourism infrastructure of country parks in the suburbs should be improved to provide more employment opportunities and high-quality cultural services. The ecological compensation mechanism and market trading mechanism should be optimized to shorten the transition period of the ecological economy.