Integrating Ecosystem Service Assessment, Human Activity Impacts, and Priority Conservation Area Delineation into Ecological Management Frameworks

Zhongxu Wang, Shengbo Chen (), Junqiang Xu, Chao Ren, Yafeng Yu, Zibo Wang, Lei Wang and Yucheng Xu
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Zhongxu Wang: School of Geomatics and Prospecting Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China
Shengbo Chen: College of Geo-Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
Junqiang Xu: College of Geo-Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
Chao Ren: Henan First Geology and Mineral Survey Institute Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 471023, China
Yafeng Yu: Jilin Institute of GF Remote Sensing Application, Changchun 130012, China
Zibo Wang: College of Geo-Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
Lei Wang: Jilin Institute of GF Remote Sensing Application, Changchun 130012, China
Yucheng Xu: College of Geo-Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: The comprehensive protection and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts is critical for enhancing ecological environmental quality and fulfilling the aspirations of ecological civilization in the modern era. Centered on the key project area of the Mountain-River Project within the Luohe River Basin of the Eastern Qinling Mountains, this study employs the InVEST model to assess spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality (HQ), water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), and soil retention (SR) for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. This study further examines the trade-offs and synergies among these ecosystem services, integrates the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) and GIS methodology with human activity patterns, determines the optimal management scenario, and offers targeted recommendations for optimization. The findings reveal that areas of high habitat quality, carbon sequestration, and soil retention are predominantly concentrated in the western and southwestern regions of the basin, whereas high-value zones of water yield are primarily situated in the southern and southwestern sectors. Habitat quality demonstrates significant synergies with other ecosystem services, whereas water yield presents a notable trade-off with soil retention. By conducting a comparative analysis of protection efficiency, we identified priority conservation areas predominantly located in the southern and southwestern regions of the basin. Moreover, through overlaying the priority conservation zones with the Human Footprint Index (HFI), the priority conservation area was precisely delineated to encompass 5.41 × 10 5 hectares. This methodology provides critical guidance for the implementation of the Mountain-River Project and offers substantial value in scientifically advancing ecological restoration initiatives.

Keywords: ecological conservation; ecosystem services; anthropogenic impacts; InVEST; Luohe river basin of the Eastern Qinling Mountains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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