Mediating Role of Relational Value in Cultural Ecosystem Services Assessment for Subjective Well-Being

Rapid urbanization continues to raise concerns about environmental quality, and the concept of cultural ecosystem services (CES) is gaining global attention as a means of maintaining human well-being. This narrative review examines the mediating role of relational value between the relationship of perceived environmental spaces and cultural practices in assessing CES. Using structured qualitative screening, three themes were identified: 1) perceived environmental space as provision of CES, 2) cultural practices as expressions of human-nature relationship, and 3) relational value as a mediating mechanism in well-being. This review emphasizes relational value as a mediating mechanism offering a conceptual base for future CES evaluation studies.