Perceptions of cultural ecosystem services provided by urban rivers. The case of the Chili River in Arequipa, Peru

Arequipa's Chili River, as part of the city's blue-green infrastructure, is highly valued for its cultural ecosystem services (CES), with scenic beauty and research potential being top priorities. While 43% of the public and 63% of experts prioritize scenic beauty, experts also emphasize cultural heritage and health benefits (50%). However, there's a gap between perceived value and active participation in recreation or education. Experts highlight untapped tourism potential (78%) and intangible heritage (67%), but note a lack of environmental education integration (64% disagree). Participatory mapping revealed distinct perceptions: the public values the Intraurban section for scenic beauty, education, and research, while experts prioritize the North for ecotourism (53%) and spirituality (36%). Key challenges include water pollution (62%) and land use regulation (33%). This study underscores the need to integrate CES into urban planning and promote community engagement for sustainable river management.

Cárdenas-Pillco, B., Vilca-Campana, K., Macedo-Medina, V., Carrasco-Valencia, L., Iruri-Ramos, C., & Chanove-Manrique, A. (2026). Perceptions of cultural ecosystem services provided by urban rivers. The case of the Chili River in Arequipa, Peru. CIDADES, Comunidades E Territórios, (sp26). https://doi.org/10.15847/cct.40928