Variations of Ecosystem Service Value in Response to Land-Use Change in the Kashgar Region, Northwest China

Aynur Mamat, Ümüt Halik and Aihemaitijiang Rouzi
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Aynur Mamat: Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
Ümüt Halik: Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
Aihemaitijiang Rouzi: Ecology Postdoctoral Research Station, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Increasing anthropogenic activities have significantly altered ecosystems in arid oasis regions. Estimating the impact on a wide range of ecosystem services is important for decision making and the sustainable development of these regions. This study analyzed time-series Landsat data to determine the influences of oasis land-use changes on the ecosystem services in the Kashgar region in Northwest China. The following results were found. The total value of the ecosystem services in the Kashgar region were approximately $10,845.3, $11,218.6, $10,291.7, and $10,127.3 million in 1986, 1996, 2005, and 2015, respectively. The water supply, waste treatment, biodiversity protection, and recreation and cultural services were the four ecosystem services with the highest service value, contributing 77.05% of the total ecosystem services. The combined contribution rate of food production and raw material value was only about 4.02%, relatively small. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the estimated total ecosystem service value (ESV) for this study area was relatively inelastic with respect to the value coefficients. The findings of this study will be crucial for maintaining the stability and sustainable development of the oasis region, where socio-economic development and the integrity of the natural ecosystem complement each other. Furthermore, the results provide a scientific basis for decision makers in land use management, and provide a reference for researchers in the Northwest China.

Keywords: ecosystem service value (ESV); Kashgar region; land-use land cover (LULC); remote sensing (RS); geographical information system (GIS) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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