Ecosystem Services Value Assessment and Uneven Development of the Qingjiang River Basin in China

Zhengsong Lin, Xinyue Ye, Qian Wei, Fan Xin, Zhang Lu, Sonali Kudva and Qiwen Dai
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Zhengsong Lin: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Xinyue Ye: Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
Qian Wei: School of Arts Communication, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Fan Xin: School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Zhang Lu: School of Arts Communication, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Sonali Kudva: School of Information, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
Qiwen Dai: School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: As an important ecological barrier in Southwest China, the Qingjiang river basin plays a vital role in shaping the mountainous terrain. This paper analyzes the Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) using a series of methods based on the data of changes in land use from 2000 to 2015 and the statistical yearbook. The changes in land use between 2000 and 2015 were dominated by forest land, which accounted for 60.63% of the total area, followed by arable landwhich accounted for about 22.26%, while grassland and other land use contribution rates were the lowest, accounting for only about 17.11%. Environmental changes and economic development were uneven. The regional comprehensive strength of En’shi City, Changyang County, and Yidu City were among the highest, while Badong County, Hefeng County, and Wufeng County were among the lowest in the area under study. In addition, the ESV in 2035 was estimated to be 1.56 billion dollars, a decrease of 27.64% when compared with the year 2000. The ESV of Yidu City, Lichuan City, Jianshi County, and Hefeng County grew faster, at the rates of 94.76%, 65.12%, 96.96%, and 92.38%, respectively. However, the ESV of En’shi City, Badong County, Wufeng County and Xuan’en County showed a downward trend, at the rates of ?32.53%, ?487.80%, ?368.07%, and ?181.52%, respectively.

Keywords: ecosystem services value; land use change; weighted summation method; grey prediction method; Qingjiang river basin; unevenness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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