Integrating participatory ecosystem service valuation and community perspectives for Thale Noi Wetland conservation

Wetlands provide ecological and socio-economic benefits, yet their values remain under-recognized in policy and local planning, particularly in community-dependent systems such as the Thale Noi Wetland in southern Thailand. This study integrates participatory ecosystem service valuation, econometric modelling, sensitivity analysis, and quantile regression to examine how households perceive and assign value to wetland ecosystem services, and to identify the socio-economic and participation-related factors associated with these valuations. Data were collected from 400 households across seven subdistricts surrounding Thale Noi between June and August 2025. Agriculture was the primary occupation of 65.5% of respondents, while 71.0% of households reported moderate to high dependence on wetland resources. The participatory valuation results indicated perceived importance across wetland ecosystem services. Cultural services contributed the largest share, followed by provisioning, regulating, and supporting functions, suggesting the importance of non-material ecosystem-service dimensions within the wetland context. OLS results showed that age, household size, ecological knowledge, and participation were positively associated with perceived ecosystem service values, whereas income and conservation trust showed negative associations. Quantile regression revealed heterogeneity across valuation groups, with knowledge showing positive associations from the median upward and participation showing positive associations across quantiles. The findings may provide insights for community-based wetland conservation and participatory governance approaches in the Thale Noi Wetland. Differences in livelihood dependence, participation patterns, and valuation levels may be relevant for designing locally adapted conservation and ecosystem-management initiatives. The study also highlights the potential importance of environmental learning, participatory engagement, and context-specific governance processes within wetland conservation planning.