Relationship between ecosystem services and rural residential well-being in the Xin’an river Basin, China

The River Basin Ecological Compensation Policy, which is an important starting point for the realization of ecological civilization, has changed the perceptions of the local residents regarding ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB). Based on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework, we performed a face-to-face questionnaire-based survey among 807 randomly selected rural residents in the Xin’an River Basin (XARB). Resident cognitive status was evaluated upstream and downstream of the XARB according to ES and individual HWB; subsequently, the relationships within and among ES and HWB were discussed. Results showed that upstream residents attached more importance to air purity, education, and biodiversity, whereas downstream residents were more focused on food, clean water, climate, and flood regulation. Overall, upstream and downstream residents focused on provisioning and regulating ES, respectively. Regarding HWB, upstream residents were highly satisfied with family harmony, culture, and entertainment, whereas downstream residents preferred improved air and drinking water quality. There were significant differences regarding the internal correlations between ES and HWB variables both upstream and downstream, and the selected leading indicators were inconsistent. Complex trade-off and synergistic relationships between HWB and ES variables were also evident, primarily reflected through the significant negative correlation between basic material and provisioning ES upstream, and the significant positive correlation between health and regulating ES downstream. These results should help implementing ecological compensation policies, people-oriented developmental concepts within the decision-making process, and ultimately a sustainable economic and social development of the XARB.