Relationships between ecosystem services and human well-being from a water–energy–food nexus perspective: A case study of Jiziwan, Yellow River Basin, China

The sustainable management of water, energy, and food is crucial for achieving regional development, especially in areas facing resource scarcity. However, the connections between ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) remain underexplored, particularly within the context of the water–energy–food nexus (WEF- nexus). This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs and HWB in the Jiziwan region of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2020, using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the interactions between these variables. Our results show that the four key ESs—water yield, sand fixation, carbon sequestration, and food supply—exhibit similar spatial patterns, with values decreasing from southeast to northwest, alongside an improving trend over time. HWB indicators overall increased, with the exception of good social relations, which declined. We found that the water and food systems positively impacted HWB, while the energy system showed a negative effect. These findings highlight the importance of integrating ESs into regional governance frameworks to enhance HWB, with implications for sustainable development in other regions facing similar resource challenges. The study provides a theoretical foundation for developing ESs management strategies from a WEF-Nexus perspective that can be applied to other water-scarce, resource-dependent regions worldwide.