Do perceived and calculated ecosystem services affect residents’ human well-being differently? ——A comparison study in the Guanting Reservoir basin, China

Understanding the relationship between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being is critical for sustainable development. However, ES are often quantified in either resident-perceived or model-measured perspective, whether this would cause a difference in its relationship with human well-being is poorly understood. By integrating biophysical models and household surveys, we used the method of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to compare how perceived (resident-based) and calculated (model-based) ES influence human well-being in China’s Guanting Reservoir basin. Results revealed that provisioning services consistently enhanced human well-being in both perspectives, with influence coefficients ranging from 0.134 to 0.222. Discrepancies emerged in pathways among regulating, supporting, and cultural services, as residents’ perceptions contradicted the results derived from calculated ES. These differences highlight the gap between public perception shaped by socio-cultural narratives and biophysical realities, and emphasize the need for multi-perspective approaches in the valuation of ES to align with residents’ well-being.