Wetlands as natural water infrastructure: perceived importance, reported use and importance–use mismatch among surveyed communities near Algerian wetlands

Graphical summary of a survey of 816 respondents from 29 villages associated with 16 Algerian wetlands. High perceived importance was reported by 85.0%, low use by 59.6%, and both together by 47.2%. HI–LU prevalence ranged from 7.2% to 67.5% across alternative definitions. Selected adjusted associations concern age and hydroclimatic zone, with arid–zone estimates based on four wetlands. The classification describes a response pattern; its proposed screening role requires independent validation. Wetlands support water security and local well-being through provisioning services, yet perceived importance may not match reported use. We examined this relationship using 816 service-complete records from 29 villages linked to 16 wetlands in sub-humid north-eastern and arid inland Algeria. Three outcomes were analysed: high perceived importance, low reported use, and high-importance/low-use (HI–LU) mismatch. Population-averaged logistic generalised estimating equations accounted for village clustering; sensitivity analyses tested alternative HI–LU definitions, wetland-level clustering and zone-restricted comparisons. Very or Extremely important was selected by 85.0% of respondents, low use by 59.6% and HI–LU mismatch by 47.2% (primary definition); prevalence ranged from 7.2–67.5% under alternative definitions. Respondents older than 60 years had lower odds of high importance (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16–0.77). Arid-zone respondents had lower odds of high importance (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.19) and higher odds of low use (OR = 7.75, 95% CI: 1.81–33.14); these contrasts rested on four wetland units. Protection-status estimates were imprecise (only two wetlands recorded as unprotected). High importance can coexist with limited use. HI–LU is an operational classification, not a deficit measure; its screening utility remains unvalidated.