Spatial Patterns of Social Values for Ecosystem Services and Their Environmental Associations in an Urban Forest Park

Urban forests provide diverse ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being, yet the spatial distribution of their perceived social values and their associations with environmental characteristics remain insufficiently understood. This study examines the spatial heterogeneity of social values for ecosystem services (SVES) and their implications for urban forest management. Using Zijin Mountain National Forest Park in Nanjing, China, as a case study, we integrated social media data and participatory mapping surveys with the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) model and the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm to assess eight SVES categories, identify multi-value hotspots, and examine their associations with environmental factors. The results revealed pronounced spatial heterogeneity and multiple centers of social value concentration. Four functional hotspot types were identified, corresponding to ecological conservation, cultural exhibition, recreational activities, and health and wellness. Environmental associations differed across these areas, with roads, pedestrian paths, water bodies, forest edges, buildings, and educational facilities exhibiting distinct relationships with perceived values. Exploratory response curves further suggested nonlinear variations along environmental gradients. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for spatially differentiated social values when coordinating ecological conservation, recreational opportunities, and cultural experiences in urban forest management.