Effectively enhancing perceptions of cultural ecosystem services: A case study of a karst cultural ecosystem

The role of cultural ecosystem services (CES) is vital to consider when developing ecological sustainable

development policies that can improve the well-being of humans. Research on CES has increased in recent years;

however, few studies have explored the complex mechanisms driving perceptions of CES and the factors influ

encing those perceptions. In areas with unique landforms and fragile ecological environments, this type of

research is difficult and rare. To address this research gap, this focuses on a typical karst area Guilin Xingping in

China, evaluating residents’ perceptions of local CES, and applying qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to

explore the driving mechanism behind those perceptions. We found that the satisfaction of material needs is a

prerequisite and basis for further improving residents’ spiritual perceptions and pursuits. Residents’ socio

economic level, understanding of resource importance, and economic value determine whether residents can

fully perceive the value of CES. Optimizing the ability of managers, improving relevant systems, and improving

the experience with and understanding of ecosystems have a more than 50% probability of improving percep

tions related to CES. The research shows that the combination of multiple antecedents can achieve a high level of

perceptions related to CES. Managers can refer to the best path for policy regulation based on the actual situ

ation. Finally, this study provides a new policy scheme for promoting ecological sustainable development and

improving residents’ well-being, and can provide insights to inform the sustainable development of other karst

areas.