A simulation approach to optimizing the vegetation covers under the water constraint in the Yellow River Basin

Jie Li

Forest Policy and Economics, 2021, vol. 123, issue C

Abstract: Although aggressive tree planting and vegetation recovery have enhanced the ecosystem functions and services of the Yellow River (YR) basin, there have been unintended consequences. The primary goal of this study is to explore the implications of alternatives of vegetation cover restoration to water resource allocation in the YR basin using a linear programming model that maximizes the ecological productivity. Our results reveal that under the conservative scenario, the water resource endowment would be sufficient. In comparison, the optimized vegetation pattern is 86% shrub and 14% of grass covers under the moderate scenario, and 23% shrub and 77% grass covers under the aggressive scenario. In view of these and other findings, it can be seen that the current practices of restoration have put too much attention on planting trees and establishing forest cover, rather than mixing forest, shrub, and grass covers appropriately according to the purpose(s) of ecological restoration and the available water resources. Our findings are of broad relevance given the heightened international efforts of restoring degraded ecosystems.

Keywords: Vegetation restoration; Water constraint; Ecological productivity; Yellow River basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:forpol:v:123:y:2021:i:c:s1389934120307036

DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102377

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