The socio-cultural value of urban wetlands: Insights into local sustainable management

Wetlands play a key role in society by providing livelihoods, supporting biodiversity, protecting against flooding, shaping cultural identity, and enhancing the mental health and well-being of urban inhabitants. Building on this understanding, this study assesses the cultural ecosystem services of urban and peri-urban wetlands and their relationship with collective actions and sustainable results in Santiago de Cali (Colombia). Using survey data from 276 participants, we applied bivariate and multivariate methods, including partial least squares structural equation modeling, to explore the relationships among non-monetary and monetary valuations, collective actions, and ecological outcomes. Results show that wetland location significantly influences how people perceive and value cultural ecosystem services, as well as how they engage in collective actions. Non-monetary valuation has a stronger and positive effect on ecological outcomes than monetary valuation. Although collective actions did not moderate the valuation-outcomes relationship, their presence is associated with improved ecological conditions. These findings demonstrate the importance of different dimensions of value and place-based strategies in urban wetland governance. Municipal policymakers should foster participation, acknowledge value diversity across income zones, and invest in equitable access to cultural ecosystem services to support sustainable urban wetlands.