Evaluation and mapping of the positive and negative social values for the urban river ecosystem

Urban rivers play a crucial role in providing ecosystem services (ES) that contribute to the social well-being and quality of life urban inhabitants. However, rapid urbanisation has led progressive degradation these rivers, affecting their capacity deliver ES resulting significant socio-ecological impacts. This study performs participatory mapping non-monetary values (positives negatives), Zamora Malacatos Rivers ESs, Loja, Ecuador, understand community perceptions preferences context degraded landscapes as complementary category analysis traditional approaches. Methodologically, collection, were carried out using public participation GIS (PPGIS) based on surveys. method facilitated integration data with biophysical variables. The most relevant ten studied positives: Learning, Aesthetic, Therapeutic negatives: Displeasure, Deficient Inaccessible Infrastructure Threat Flooding. We revealed different spatial patterns for each value, where positive value locations exhibited dispersed pattern, clusters peripheral areas, while negative clustered pattern city centre. environmental variable contribution was Horizontal Distance Green Areas. These findings enhance our understanding associated river contexts. Furthermore, they provide valuable insights identifying areas opportunity conflict, informing planning effective management landscape.