Bridging community perceptions and forest management: A BWS assessment of ecosystem service priorities in high-mountain Chile

Abstract This research was carried out in the high-mountain village of Malalcahuello, in the La Araucanía region of Chile, where the community depends on various ecosystem services, especially those associated with forest tourism. The Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) method was applied to collect and analyze local perceptions regarding the relative importance of six ecosystem services: water regulation, environmental education (‘Information for cognitive development’ according to TEEB classification), biodiversity conservation, recreation and tourism, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation. The study incorporates advanced econometric modeling (Mixed Logit and Latent Class models) to robustly address heterogeneity in community preferences, significantly enhancing its analytical contribution. Results reveal environmental education and biodiversity conservation as the highest prioritized services, reflecting the community’s immediate reliance on tangible ecosystem benefits. In contrast, carbon sequestration and climate regulation are perceived as less urgent, likely due to their abstract nature and long-term benefits. The conclusions underscore the need for tailored communication strategies and suggest policy development that integrates biodiversity conservation and environmental education into local forest management, advocating for adaptive co-management strategies to improve policy legitimacy and effectiveness.