Impact of Specialized Cultivation Evolution on Ecosystem Services in Anxi Tea Gardens

Yongqiang Ma, Tiejun Wen, Yujie Liao, Sunbowen Zhang () and Shuisheng Fan ()
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Yongqiang Ma: Anxi College of Tea Science (College of Digital Economy), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Quanzhou 362400, China
Tiejun Wen: Anxi College of Tea Science (College of Digital Economy), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Quanzhou 362400, China
Yujie Liao: College of Rural Revitalization, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Sunbowen Zhang: Anxi College of Tea Science (College of Digital Economy), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Quanzhou 362400, China
Shuisheng Fan: College of Rural Revitalization, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-23

Abstract: The specialization of tea gardens represents a significant pathway to enhancing the international competitiveness of agriculture. However, it may also disrupt the supply–demand balance of ecosystem services. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the specialized tea zone of Anxi as a case study. Using the InVEST model, we quantitatively assessed four key ecosystem services between 1990 and 2020: carbon storage, habitat quality, water yield, and soil conservation. The findings reveal that tea gardens perform relatively well in terms of carbon storage and habitat quality. However, their capacity for water conservation is limited, and soil conservation is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Dynamic transitions between tea gardens and forests have exerted considerable influence on changes in ecosystem services, with policies and practices aimed at converting tea plantations back to forest demonstrating a positive role in ecological restoration. Finally, guided by the principles of nature-based solutions, this study proposes targeted strategies to provide scientific support and practical references for sustainable development in specialized agricultural regions.

Keywords: specialized tea zone; ecosystem services; nature-base solutions (NbS); InVEST model; land use change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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