Awareness and Behaviors of Beijing Residents Regarding Wetland Conservation

Abstract

Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems worldwide, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring human well-being. This study conducted a questionnaire survey of 1008 residents across 16 districts in Beijing to systematically analyze their awareness, attitudes, and behaviors regarding wetland conservation. The results indicate that the majority of residents hold a positive attitude towards wetland conservation, with over 90% supporting the expansion of wetland areas and 82% considering wetland protection more important than economic development. Regarding willingness to pay, residents tend to prefer small donations, with the highest proportion willing to contribute less than CNY 100 annually, while 92.5% expressed a willingness to support wetland conservation through volunteer work. Residents’ behaviors are significantly influenced by the geographical location and functional configuration of wetlands, with higher visit rates observed at wetlands closer to urban areas, such as Shichahai Wetland and Summer Palace Wetland. This study also reveals that public awareness of wetland ecological functions is lacking, particularly in terms of biodiversity conservation and water quality improvement. The findings provide a scientific basis for enhancing wetland conservation policies and improving public awareness and actions for wetland protection in Beijing.

1. Introduction

Wetlands are widely recognized by international ecologists as one of the most important ecosystems globally, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring human well-being [1]. Urban wetlands are considered key natural units for maintaining urban sustainability while also being highly vulnerable ecological units [2]. Urban wetlands not only provide diverse habitats for wildlife but also offer a range of ecosystem services, including climate regulation, air quality improvement, water quality improvement, flood regulation, and opportunities for recreation and cultural education [3]. However, with the rapid expansion of cities, the reduction in urban wetland areas and the degradation of their functions have become pressing issues that require urgent solutions. Currently, research on wetlands tends to focus more on coastal, lake, or river wetlands, covering topics such as the spatiotemporal distribution of these wetland types, ecosystem assessment, ecological restoration, carbon cycling, and management systems. In comparison, research on urban wetland conservation, particularly in megacities like Beijing, is still limited, and this study aims to fill this gap by providing a detailed examination of public awareness and participation in urban wetland conservation in Beijing. The novelty of this case study lies in its specific focus on addressing the unique pressures and challenges faced by urban wetlands in a rapidly urbanizing megacity while also considering the ecological characteristics of these wetlands that affect public perception. Research on urban wetland conservation remains relatively scarce, insufficient to meet the real-world needs of ecological protection and sustainable development in the context of urbanization.

In Beijing, the total wetland area is 62,100 hectares, accounting for approximately 3.79% of the city’s total area [4]. Due to economic development, accelerated urbanization, and weak awareness of wetland protection, Beijing has seen a reduction in wetland areas of approximately 194,700 hectares since the 1950s, with large areas of wetlands shrinking or even disappearing [5]. In recent years, the Beijing government has undertaken substantial efforts to protect wetland resources by implementing various conservation and restoration measures, such as establishing wetland nature reserves, wetland parks, and micro wetlands. These efforts reflect the city’s commitment to protecting and restoring wetlands and their functions, promoting the sustainable utilization of ecological resources. However, the effective protection and management of urban wetlands depend not only on policy implementations but also on active public awareness and perceptions [6]. Public perception of the wetland environment is the result of complex interactions between humans and the environment, involving emotional and cognitive processes linked to values, cultural backgrounds, attitudes, and preferences [7]. A study based on the Personal Construct Theory explored public perceptions of freshwater wetlands in Victoria, Australia, and found that public perceptions encompassed not only the landscape patterns of wetlands but also their biology, habitats, ecosystems, and ecological processes [8]. Therefore, the public’s awareness and attitudes toward urban wetlands can provide strong support for the formulation and effective implementation of wetland protection policies, as well as the development of scientific and sustainable wetland management models [9]. A study on urban wetlands in Mexico assessed residents’ perceptions of wetland characteristics, revealing that in addition to socio-economic and environmental variables, regional management variables—such as canals, urban housing, and irregular settlements—significantly influenced residents’ perceptions of urban wetlands [10]. Moreover, research on Xuan Thuy National Park in Vietnam found that surrounding community residents generally held positive attitudes toward wetland conservation but had low awareness of the potential threats wetlands faced and the park’s regulations. Age, length of residence, and education level were identified as major factors influencing conservation attitudes [11]. However, extensive research has been conducted on coastal and rural wetlands, but the unique pressures and public attitudes surrounding urban wetlands in megacities like Beijing remain understudied.

Public awareness and behavior are key to maintaining the health of urban wetland ecosystems. Understanding the willingness of 377 residents to participate in urban wetland conservation and the factors that influence this willingness is of great significance [12]. Based on this, the present study conducted a questionnaire survey among 1008 residents in 16 districts of Beijing, providing an in-depth analysis of the awareness and behavioral tendencies of Beijing residents regarding urban wetland conservation. The objectives of this study are to (1) assess Beijing residents’ attitudes and behavioral tendencies toward wetland conservation; (2) identify the key demographic and socio-economic factors influencing public awareness and willingness to engage in conservation efforts; and (3) explore effective strategies for enhancing public participation in urban wetland conservation. The findings of this case study will provide insights for the innovation of urban wetland management models and the design of long-term wetland conservation mechanisms in China.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Research Area

Beijing is located in the northwest corner of the North China Plain and serves as the political and cultural center of the country. It is also an international city with a rich historical heritage and modern characteristics. Apart from its southeastern border with Tianjin, Beijing is surrounded by Hebei Province, and it is approximately 150 km southeast of the Bohai Sea. The city’s geographic coordinates range from 39°26′ to 41°04′ N latitude and 115°25′ to 117°30′ E longitude. Beijing covers a total land area of 16.4 million hectares, of which mountainous areas account for 10.1 million hectares, or 61.6% of the total area, while plains cover 6.3 million hectares, representing 38.4% of the total area. The city’s terrain is diverse, primarily composed of hills, plains, river valleys, and basins. Beijing experiences a temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate, characterized by most rainfall occurring in summer (June to August) and autumn (September to November), with winters (December to February) being predominantly dry and cold. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Beijing’s urbanization rate was 29.5% in 1984, but by 2020, it had risen to approximately 87.5%, indicating significant urban development over the past few decades. Additionally, Beijing boasts numerous cultural heritage sites and tourism resources, attracting millions of visitors each year, contributing significantly to the city’s tourism industry and cultural economy. As of the 2022 survey, the total area of wetlands larger than 400 square meters in Beijing was 62,100 hectares, accounting for 3.79% of the city’s total area. Beijing’s wetlands are mainly distributed across the five major water systems (Figure 1), including the Yongding River, Chaobai River, and Beiyun River, as well as over 20 large- and medium-sized reservoirs. Wetlands are found in all 16 districts of Beijing, with significant concentrations in Miyun District, Tongzhou District, and Fangshan District. The largest drinking water source in Beijing, the Miyun Reservoir, is also located in a wetland area. Wetland nature reserves are distributed in Yanqing District, Shunyi District, Fangshan District, and Huairou District.

2.2. Sample Selection

The selected regions were chosen based on key criteria: the diversity of wetland types (including reserves, parks, and micro-wetlands), ensuring a broad representation of ecosystems; higher wetland concentrations for geographical diversity; ecological importance, with a focus on Miyun, Tongzhou, and Fangshan; and urbanization levels, allowing for a comparison of public awareness across different urban settings. This study focused on the 16 districts of Beijing, where we conducted on-site investigations into various types of wetlands within these districts. After designing the questionnaire, a small-scale pilot survey was conducted to refine and improve the questionnaire, followed by extensive on-site surveys in different types of wetlands across the 16 districts. A total of 97 locations were randomly selected across the districts for the survey, and 1008 valid questionnaires were collected. Of these, 420 were collected through on-site surveys, while 588 were collected via online questionnaires (

Table 1. Sample collection information.

District	Wetlands Surveyed	Residents Surveyed
Xicheng	6	167
Chaoyang	9	137
Fengtai	6	45
Shijingshan	2	21
Haidian	16	213
Shunyi	2	55
Tongzhou	9	41
Daxing	7	84
Fangshan	8	32
Dongcheng	1	3
Mentougou	10	60
Changping	5	29
Pinggu	3	24
Miyun	3	34
Huairou	6	26
Yanqing	4	37

). The on-site surveys were conducted in public spaces near urban wetlands, while the online surveys were distributed to a broader audience through social media and local community networks. The questionnaire responses were finalized by October 2022.

The number of residents surveyed in each wetland was not consistent, as the selection was based on the distribution of wetlands. Selection criteria for participants included demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, occupation) to reflect Beijing’s socio-economic diversity, length of residence to gauge familiarity with local wetlands, and frequency of interaction with wetlands (e.g., visits to parks and reserves) to assess exposure’s effect on awareness. These criteria align with international studies on wetland and environmental awareness [8,13].

Wetlands in areas with a higher number of wetland sites were selected in greater quantity for surveys, while areas with fewer wetland sites had fewer survey locations. To address the uneven distribution of wetlands across districts, a stratified random sampling approach was employed to ensure proportional representation from districts with higher concentrations of wetlands. This approach aimed to ensure that wetlands with higher ecological importance or greater public exposure were well-represented in the sample. For example, Dongcheng and Shijingshan, which have fewer wetland sites, naturally had a smaller number of residents surveyed compared to districts with more abundant wetland resources.

2.3. Data Analysis

This study applied statistical methods to analyze the relationships between demographic characteristics, residents’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors toward urban wetland conservation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondents’ basic characteristics, including age, education level, income, and responses to key questions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to examine the relationships between individual socio-economic characteristics and residents’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors toward wetland conservation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify predictors of residents’ willingness to pay for wetland conservation and their willingness to volunteer, with independent variables including age, income, education.

3. Results and Analysis

3.1. Basic Characteristics of Residents and Their Households

This study first described the basic characteristics of the residents and their households (

Table 2. Basic characteristics of the sampled residents and their families.

Indicator	Category	Proportion (%)	Indicator	Explanation	Proportion (%)
Gender	Male	40.77	Residential Area	Xicheng	6.85
	Female	59.23		Chaoyang	15.67
Age	Under 19	0.69		Fengtai	7.04
	19–35	70.54		Shijingshan	5.75
	36–50	21.03		Haidian	25.89
	51–69	7.74		Shunyi	4.76
Education Level	Vocational School	2.78		Tongzhou	4.66
	Associate Degree	10.02		Daxing	6.15
	Bachelor’s Degree	61.01		Fangshan	4.96
	Master’s Degree	17.36		Dongcheng	1.79
Marital Status	Married	51.59		Mentougou	4.46
	Unmarried	47.82		Changping	5.65
Health Condition	Very Poor	0.10		Pinggu	1.49
	Poor	3.77		Miyun	2.78
	Average	17.86		Huairou	2.08
	Good	58.63		Yanqing	1.88
	Very Good	19.64	Home Ownership in Beijing	No Property	47.92
Occupation	Farmer	0.60		Owns one property	44.74
	Laborer	6.15		Owns two properties	6.55
	Company Employee	50.20		Owns three or more properties	0.79
	Public Institution Employee	8.63	Years Living in Beijing	Less than 1 year	2.88
	Civil Servant	3.47		1 to 5 years	24.80
	Self-Employed	3.08		5 to 10 years	21.23
	Freelancer	2.48		10 to 15 years	8.73
	Student	20.14		More than 15 years	42.36
	Retired	3.47	Monthly Post-Tax Income	CNY 4000/month or below	19.05
	Active Military	0.10		CNY 4001 ~ 8000/month	18.85
	Other	1.49		CNY 8001 ~ 12,000/month	23.12
	Unemployed	0.20		CNY 12,001 ~ 16,000/month	21.53
Beijing Household Registration	Yes	56.35		CNY 16,001 ~ 20,000/month	9.52
	No	43.75		CNY 20,001 ~ 24,000/month	3.57
				CNY 24,001 ~ 28,000/month	1.59
				CNY 28,001 ~ 32,000/month	0.79
				More than CNY 32,000/month	1.98

), including participants’ gender, age, educational background, marital status, health status, occupation, Beijing household registration status, district of residence, homeownership in Beijing, length of residence in Beijing, and monthly post-tax income.

In the survey sample, the proportion of male residents was slightly lower than that of female residents. Most respondents were between 19 and 35 years old, with the majority holding a bachelor’s degree. The proportions of married and unmarried residents were roughly equal. Nearly 80% of respondents considered their health to be good or very good. In terms of employment, most participants were company employees, followed by students. The proportion of residents with a Beijing hukou was slightly higher than those without, aligning with the fact that more than half of the respondents owned homes in Beijing. Over half of the residents had lived in Beijing for more than 10 years. Most residents resided in Haidian, Chaoyang, Fengtai, Xicheng, and Daxing districts. Monthly post-tax income was concentrated in four ranges: CNY 12,000–16,000, CNY 8001–12,000, CNY 4001–8000, and CNY 4000 or below, reflecting the current socio-economic reality of Beijing.

3.2. Residents’ Awareness and Attitudes Toward Current Wetland Conservation

Residents’ perceptions of wetland conservation were assessed based on indicators such as air quality, biodiversity richness, water quality, landscaping conditions, urban cleanliness, and wetland protection status (

Table 3. Sample residents’ attitudes toward wetland conservation status.

Indicator	Category	Proportion (%)	Indicator	Explanation	Proportion (%)
Air Quality	Very poor	0.60	Biodiversity Richness	Very poor	0.69
	Poor	6.45		Poor	6.45
	Average	21.13		Average	47.08
	Good	49.80		Good	20.87
	Very good	22.02		Very good	24.90
Water Quality	Very poor	1.09	Landscaping Conditions	Very poor	0.50
	Poor	5.26		Poor	2.38
	Average	25.69		Average	14.88
	Good	37.90		Good	48.21
	Very good	30.06		Very good	34.03
Urban Cleanliness	Very poor	0.60	Wetland Protection Status	Very poor	0.60
	Poor	2.48		Poor	3.17
	Average	18.55		Average	19.05
	Good	50.79		Good	49.11
	Very good	27.58		Very good	28.08

).

In the survey sample, more than 80% of participants rated the air quality, landscaping conditions, and wetland protection status in their surrounding wetlands as good or very good. About 70% of respondents considered water quality and urban cleanliness to be good or very good. However, only 45.77% of participants rated biodiversity richness as good or very good, indicating that there is still room for improvement in biodiversity conservation in wetland management.

Overall, most participants believed that the likelihood of restoring wetlands after loss was small or impossible (Figure 2). About 68% of respondents thought the possibility of restoration was low, and 9% believed it was impossible. However, approximately 23% of participants believed that wetland restoration was possible, with 13% considering the likelihood to be high or very high. This suggests that some residents may lack understanding of wetland restoration efforts under current conservation practices (Figure 2A).

The majority of participants, about 82%, agreed that wetland protection is more important than economic development, with 16% strongly agreeing and 51% somewhat agreeing. However, approximately 14% of respondents disagreed with the idea that wetland protection is more important than economic development, and 4% strongly disagreed, indicating that some residents remain uncertain about the relationship between wetland conservation and economic growth (Figure 2B).

The survey also revealed that 19% of participants had little knowledge of wetland protection regulations, while 30% had a basic understanding. A further 38% and 13% of respondents reported being relatively well informed and very well informed, respectively, indicating that public education and outreach on wetland protection laws and policies still need to be strengthened (Figure 2C).

More than 90% of participants supported the expansion of wetland areas in Beijing, with only 3% opposing it. This shows that the ecosystem services and well-being provided by wetlands are widely recognized by the public (Figure 2D).

3.3. Residents’ Behavior Toward Wetland Conservation

Beijing Wild Duck Lake Nature Reserve had the highest proportion of visitors (13.89%,

Table 4. Types of wetland protected areas visited by sample residents.

Indicator Explanation	Proportion (%)	Indicator Explanation	Proportion (%)
Wetland Nature Reserves (6)		Other Protected Areas (15)
Beijing Wild Duck Lake Nature Reserve	13.89	Liulihe Wetland Forest Ruins Park	5.06
Hanshiqiao Wetland Nature Reserve	8.73	Shichahai Wetland	37.20
Huaihe River Water Wildlife Protection Area	3.08	Chaoyang Park Wetland	33.83
Juma River Aquatic Wildlife Protection Area	5.26	Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park Wetland	30.95
Baihepu Protection Area	4.86	Lotus Pond Park Wetland	13.10
Beijing Jinniu Lake Nature Reserve	5.26	Yongding River Fengtai Wetland	6.25
Wetland Parks (12)		Yongding River Shijingshan Wetland	7.44
Beijing Cuihu Wetland Park	23.02	Tongzhou Section of North CanalWetland	6.75
Beijing Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park	15.08	Beijing Zoo Wetland	28.17
Beijing Changou Spring National Wetland Park	5.95	Summer Palace Wetland	36.71
Huairou Liulimiao Wetland Park	4.37	Yuyuantan Park Wetland	26.19
Daxing Changziying Wetland Park	7.14	Zizhuyuan Park Wetland	17.96
Nanhaizi Wetland Park	19.64	Beihai Park Wetland	32.04
Tanghekou Wetland Park	2.48	Olympic Forest Park Wetland	32.94
Pinggu Mafang Xiaolonghe Wetland Park	2.88	Taoranting Park Wetland	18.25
Yanggezhuang Wetland Park	1.79
Mentougou Yanchi Jihe Wetland Park	3.27	Drinking Water Source Protection Areas (2)
Miyun Reservoir	10.52	Chaobai River Upper Reach Wetland	1.88
Beijing Yuyuantan East Lake Wetland Park	10.42
Miyun Mujiayu Hongmenchuan Wetland Park	1.88

). The most visited wetland park was the Beijing Cuihu Wetland Park, with a visitation rate of 23.02%. For drinking water source protection areas, the Miyun Reservoir had the highest visitation rate (10.52%). Among other protected areas, the top six most visited were Shichahai Wetland (37.20%), Summer Palace Wetland (36.71%), Chaoyang Park Wetland (33.83%), Olympic Forest Park Wetland (32.94%), Beihai Park Wetland (32.04%), and Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park Wetland (30.95%). These trends may be influenced by factors such as proximity to downtown Beijing, ease of transportation, and the cultural functions of the wetlands.

Most participants lived more than 2 km from the nearest wetland park, and only a small number lived within 500 m, indicating that most wetland parks are located away from residential areas (Figure 3). Overall, the number of visitors tended to increase as the distance from home to the wetland park increased. The majority of participants visited wetland parks at least once a month, with most visiting 1–3 times per month. However, some participants visited wetland parks less than once a month, a number second only to those who visited 1–3 times monthly, indicating that a portion of residents do not have a habit of visiting wetland parks regularly.

In terms of duration, most participants were willing to stay at wetland parks for more than 1 h per visit, with the majority spending 1–3 h at the parks. A smaller proportion spent 4–6 h, while some reported staying for less than 1 h per visit, suggesting that certain residents either lack interest in exploring wetland parks or find nearby parks too small for longer visits.

3.4. Residents’ Willingness to Pay for Wetland Conservation

A total of 889 respondents indicated their willingness to support wetland conservation in Beijing through donations, far surpassing those who were unwilling to donate (Figure 4). This suggests that residents’ awareness of wetland conservation has gradually increased, and they are willing to contribute financially to support and protect Beijing’s wetlands. Overall, the number of participants willing to donate decreases as the maximum annual donation amount increases. Most respondents were willing to donate less than CNY 100, between CNY 100 and 299, and between CNY 300 and 499 per year for wetland protection, reflecting a possible financial constraint among residents.

Additionally, 933 respondents expressed willingness to support wetland conservation through volunteer work, significantly more than the 75 who were unwilling. This highlights a growing awareness of wetland conservation among residents, who are eager to contribute through voluntary activities. In terms of time commitments, the majority of participants were willing to volunteer for 10–30 h (47%), 30–50 h (24%), and 50–70 h (5%) per year. Only 21% of participants were willing to volunteer for fewer than 10 h per year, indicating a high level of enthusiasm for participating in wetland conservation efforts.

4. Discussion

In this study, wetlands were categorized based on their management intensity, ranging from highly managed parks to less intensively managed nature reserves and reservoirs. However, each wetland’s ecological characteristics, such as proximity to rivers and specific management types, were not explicitly considered in the survey analysis. Future studies should aim to classify wetlands more rigorously, considering ecological factors such as water quality, biodiversity, and access to nearby communities. Residents have a strong perception of changes in the wetland ecosystem, which is influenced by multiple internal and external factors [14]. Individual socio-economic characteristics are closely related to participants’ awareness and attitudes toward current wetland conservation. Specifically, factors such as age, education level, marital status, and health status all have a significant impact on the evaluation results (p < 0.05). The survey shows that Beijing residents hold a positive attitude toward wetland conservation, with over 90% supporting the expansion of wetland areas, and more than 82% believing that urban wetland conservation is more important than economic development. This awareness mainly stems from residents’ daily interactions with the cultural and recreational values of wetlands. However, despite high overall awareness, residents’ understanding of the ecological functions of wetlands, such as water quality improvement and biodiversity conservation, remains relatively low. This could be attributed to the demographic characteristics of the respondents, as many were younger and had lower levels of education beyond undergraduate degrees.

Age plays an important role in shaping residents’ perceptions, with younger respondents tending to focus on leisure and esthetic experiences, while older respondents generally have a deeper understanding of the potential ecosystem value [15]. Educational level is also a key factor influencing public awareness of wetland environments. For example, in a study on urban wetlands in Mexico City, education levels significantly affected residents’ environmental awareness, with higher education correlating with stronger environmental perception [10]. Similarly, research in Nepal’s Ghodaghodi Lake area found that higher education levels were associated with more positive conservation attitudes [16].

The geographic location and functional layout of wetlands significantly impact residents’ visitation behavior. The duration and district of residence significantly affect participants’ behavior toward wetland conservation (p < 0.05). Residents who are more closely connected to wetlands tend to have a more comprehensive understanding of the environment [8]. This study shows that wetlands near urban areas, such as Shichahai and Summer Palace Wetlands, had higher visitation rates than those in more remote areas like Huaihe River Water Wildlife Protection Area and Baihepu Protection Area. This suggests that accessibility and cultural services are key factors attracting residents to visit wetlands. Most residents visit wetlands 1–3 times a month, and the average duration of each visit is 1–3 h, reflecting the role of urban wetlands as important green spaces that meet residents’ needs for ecological services and provide daily recreation and relaxation, effectively improving their quality of life and well-being.

In the future, the rational spatial layout of urban wetlands should be a key consideration in city planning. Additionally, urban wetland parks should be equipped with more educational and cultural facilities to enhance their ecological and cultural service functions, attracting more public participation in conservation-related activities.

Income level has a significant positive impact on both time investment and willingness to pay for wetland conservation (Figure 5). Income level significantly affects willingness to pay but has little impact on time investment, suggesting that higher economic capacity may drive fundraising for wetland conservation. Older respondents tend to have lower participation in wetland conservation, and specific guidance or incentive measures are needed to enhance their willingness to participate. Willingness to pay and actual participation in wetland conservation are important indicators of public awareness and pro-conservation behavior [17]. Personal variables, household income levels, environmental background, and social and human capital significantly influence residents’ willingness to engage in wetland protection [18]. Although most residents are willing to donate to wetland conservation, their contributions are generally in lower financial brackets. This could be due to income constraints, as income levels have a positive effect on willingness to pay [19]. As income decreases, so does the public’s willingness to contribute financially.

Moreover, distance from the residential area to wetlands also affects willingness to pay; residents living farther away from wetlands exhibit lower willingness to pay [20]. In contrast, residents’ willingness to volunteer their time for conservation efforts tends to be higher than their willingness to donate money [21,22]. This study confirms this finding, as over 92% of residents expressed willingness to support wetland conservation through volunteer work. This indicates a high level of public interest in wetland protection. In the future, wetland management authorities should actively explore innovative public engagement mechanisms, such as seminars, lectures, and other fruitful activities, to encourage and build residents’ capacities and awareness. These activities could help institutionalize public participation mechanisms and further strengthen residents’ involvement in wetland conservation efforts.

5. Conclusions

This study provides an insightful analysis of Beijing residents’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors toward wetland conservation. The findings reveal that the majority of residents demonstrate a strong commitment to wetland protection, with over 90% supporting the expansion of wetland areas. Despite this positive attitude, this study also uncovers gaps in residents’ understanding of specific ecological functions, such as biodiversity conservation and water quality improvement. Furthermore, while financial contributions for wetland conservation remain modest, a significant proportion of residents express a willingness to engage in volunteer efforts, indicating a high level of public interest in actively supporting conservation initiatives. This study highlights the importance of improving public education on wetland ecological services and suggests that the strategic spatial planning of urban wetlands, alongside enhanced cultural and educational facilities, could foster greater community engagement. Wetland management authorities should also focus on formalizing and institutionalizing public participation mechanisms to further strengthen residents’ involvement in wetland conservation efforts. This comprehensive approach will be crucial for achieving sustainable wetland management in the long term. The findings of this study are based on data collected in Beijing, which may limit their applicability to other urban contexts. To address this, future studies should investigate whether similar patterns of awareness, attitudes, and behaviors are observed in cities with different wetland management practices, cultural values, and socio-economic conditions. Additionally, this study’s reliance on self-reported data presents a potential limitation, as responses may be influenced by social desirability bias. Expanding future research to include a broader range of demographic groups and geographic regions could provide a more comprehensive understanding of public engagement in wetland conservation. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are essential to evaluate how public attitudes and behaviors change over time, particularly after the implementation of targeted educational initiatives or volunteer programs. Such research would offer valuable insights into the long-term effectiveness of public engagement strategies in promoting sustainable wetland management. The results of this study provide a valuable reference for policy-makers, urban planners, and conservationists seeking to integrate public engagement into wetland management strategies, and for fostering a greater collective effort in protecting Beijing’s vital wetland ecosystems.