Analysis of Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs/Synergies during Urbanization in the Loess Plateau, China

Jiamin Liu, Hao Wang (), Butian Tang, Le Hui, Weijuan Zhang, Liwei Zhang and Lei Jiao
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Jiamin Liu: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Hao Wang: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Butian Tang: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Le Hui: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Weijuan Zhang: College of Marxism, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
Liwei Zhang: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Lei Jiao: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: As a typical ecological fragile zone and an area with a high intensity of human activities, the Loess Plateau (LP) of China has significantly altered its ecosystem and the corresponding services under the influence of urbanization processes. However, most existing studies focus on the spatial and temporal changes of ecosystem services (ESs) and their interrelationships under the influence of ecological restoration works in the LP, leaving limited research on the impacts of urbanization on ESs. Therefore, this study constructed a research framework for exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics and interactions of ESs under the influence of urbanization based on time series data from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that: (1) based on the comprehensive urbanization level (CUL), developed and developing areas accounted for 5.63% of the total area; (2) for the whole LP, all ESs except Habitat Quality (HQ) showed an increased trend. HQ showed a trade-off with the other services, while there was a clear synergy between the other three types of services; (3) in terms of processes of urbanization, Carbon Sequestration, Water Yield and HQ gradually decreased with increased levels of urbanization, and Soil Conservation increased the least in developing areas. The trade-off between HQ and the other three services decreased with increasing urbanization, while the synergy between the other three services strengthened as urbanization deepened. These findings suggest that urbanization significantly impacts ESs. It is necessary to implement appropriate measures (e.g., sponge city construction, urban green space, etc.) to address the impacts of urbanization on ESs.

Keywords: ecosystem services; trade-off/synergy; urbanization; Loess Plateau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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