A comparative analysis of ecosystem services perceptions across two regions in Eastern Africa and Central Europe

• In East Africa and Central Europe, perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) were investigated. • Perceptions vary according to origin, education, gender, and age. • Provisioning and regulating & maintenance ES were perceived as more important in Eastern Africa. • Respondents in Central Europe attribute higher importance to cultural ES. Ecosystem services (ES) are crucial for livelihoods, the economy and good quality of life, making them essential for sustaining human well-being. However, perceptions of ES can vary according to economic and social factors. In this study, we compare people’s perceptions of ES across developing and developed countries by exploring local communities and visitors’ socio-cultural values attached to ES in the Eastern Province of Zambia (Eastern Africa) and Tyrol (Central Europe) using questionnaire surveys (N = 243). The results indicate that the respondents’ region of origin, education level, gender, age, and socio-economic status play a significant role in the perception of ES. Provisioning, regulation & maintenance ES are perceived as generally more important in Eastern Africa than in Central Europe, whereas respondents in Central Europe attribute higher importance to cultural ES. For some ES, gender type, age group, living place, and educational level also influence perception. These socio- economic differences are underlined by the ranking of ES in terms of personal importance. In Eastern Africa, the ES ‘food from agriculture’, ‘natural hazard protection’, ‘prevention of water scarcity’ and ‘climate regulation’ are particularly important. In Europe, the most frequently chosen ES are ‘opportunity for leisure activities’ and ‘peaceful places and tranquillity’. Our findings provide insights into the socio-cultural importance of benefits provided by nature across two socio-economic different contexts, suggesting that decision-making processes will need be responsive to context differences and different needs depending on economic and social background.