Article
Environmental Sciences
Siyuan Feng, Xin Liu, Wenwu Zhao, Ying Yao, Ao Zhou, Xiaoxing Liu, Paulo Pereira
Summary: Inner Mongolia is located in China's arid regions, facing the risk of desertification and requiring ecological restoration. By studying ecosystem services and vulnerability, it was found that soil conservation services have degraded in the northeast, and areas with higher ecosystem vulnerability are concentrated in that region.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew G. E. Mitchell, Richard Schuster, Aerin L. Jacob, Dalal E. L. Hanna, Camille Ouellet Dallaire, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Elena M. Bennett, Bernhard Lehner, Kai M. A. Chan
Summary: The study developed new methods to integrate ecosystem service capacity with human demand and access indicators, identifying important areas for three key ecosystem services in Canada. The research found weak overlap between locations of ecosystem service capacity and actual service providing areas, with limited hotspots for multiple services in the country. The study highlights the need to focus conservation and ecosystem service management actions on areas where critical services that directly benefit people are conserved.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Boru Su, Moucheng Liu
Summary: This study summarizes the management approaches of trade-offs between ecosystem services and proposes a framework to improve the efficiency and fairness of this management. The results show that improving the supply of key ecosystem services and compensating for the inevitable loss on non-key ecosystem services can enhance the efficiency and fairness of trade-off management.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Lihan Cui, Zhen Shen, Yuexin Liu, Chaoyue Yu, Qingling Lu, Zhonghao Zhang, Yang Gao, Tiantian Nie
Summary: Soil wind erosion is a global problem, and Inner Mongolia is an area severely affected by it. The study found that precipitation and vegetation index are the main factors influencing windbreak and sand fixation services. Human activities and land use change also have a significant impact on these services.
PROGRESS IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY-EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Quanqin Shao, Shuchao Liu, Jia Ning, Guobo Liu, Fan Yang, Xiongyi Zhang, Linan Niu, Haibo Huang, Jiangwen Fan, Jiyuan Liu
Summary: We propose a theoretical framework to evaluate the ecological benefits of key national ecological projects in China. Through ground survey and remote sensing data, we generated a dataset of primary and secondary indicators related to ecosystem structure, quality, and services. Our study found that areas with higher degrees of ecological restoration were mainly located in specific regions, and the contributions of climatic factors and ecological projects to changes in vegetation and water erosion were quantified. The study highlights the importance of considering climate conditions and implementing comprehensive measures to maximize the benefits of ecological investment funds.
JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shuai Chen, Shunbo Yao
Summary: With the rapid economic development and urban expansion, ecological land is being converted into non-ecological land. To address this issue, China has implemented the concept of national key ecological functional areas (NKEFA). This study uses remote sensing technology to analyze land use change and measure ecosystem service value (ESV), focusing on Chongqing City as a case study. The results show the effectiveness of NKEFA in protecting ecosystem services through institutional constraints.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuyu Song, Yue Zhang, Wei Cao, Duanyang Xu
Summary: Large-scale ecological restoration programs have been initiated globally to combat desertification and improve ecosystem services, specifically sand fixation service (SF) in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the effectiveness of ecological restoration in improving air quality and other radiation benefits, remains uncertain. This study focused on Xilingol, investigating SF dynamics and quantifying the radiation benefit through the reduction of PM10 concentration. Results showed that SF in Xilingol increased with fluctuations at an average annual rate of 0.27% from 2000 to 2018. Ecological restoration significantly improved radiation benefit, resulting in a reduction of 104.22 μg/m3 in PM10 concentration. There were spatial variations in the changes of radiation benefit, with northern and southern Xilingol identified as hotspots for increased benefit. This work provides insight for developing differentiated cross-regional ecological compensation schemes at the national level based on regional disparities in benefit levels.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Mingjie Song, Doudou Huang, Basanta Paudel
Summary: China's National Key Ecological Function Areas (NKEFAs) provide important ecosystem services but also miss out on significant development opportunities. This article proposes a framework for estimating the eco-compensation coefficient (ECC) by considering the ecosystem service supply (ESS), ecosystem protection cost (EPC), and public service provision capability (PSC) of the National Key Ecological Function Counties (NKEFCs). The framework was applied in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YZEB) and compared with the current central-to-local fiscal transfer (CTLFT) system. The findings highlight the need for inner-provincial and cross-provincial watershed eco-compensation programs to supplement the existing program in the YZEB, and for environmental management strategies to be tailored to the specific stressors and livelihoods in NKEFAs.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Yang, Dongsheng Zhao, Hui Chen
Summary: This study proposes a new framework for quantifying the ecological carrying capacity in vulnerable ecoregions and analyzes it on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results show variations in vegetation cover requirements and aboveground net primary production across different regions, resulting in varying ecological carrying capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiongyi Zhang, Quanqin Shao, Bing Wang, Xiang Niu, Jia Ning, Meiqi Chen, Tingjing Zhang, Guobo Liu, Shuchao Liu, Linan Niu, Haibo Huang
Summary: This study analyzed the spatiotemporal changes in the ecosystem status of the National Key Ecological Function Zones (NKEFZ) in China from 2000 to 2019. The overall ecosystem quality of these zones improved, but there were disparities in changes related to ecosystem services. Water conservation services exhibited a decreasing trend, while soil conservation and windbreak and sand fixation services showed a steady improvement. The research highlighted the challenges in the construction and preservation of the NKEFZ and emphasized the need to leverage natural resources for eco-friendly economic industries.
Article
Environmental Studies
Jun Jiang, Hailin Zhang, Qing Huang, Fei Liu, Long Li, Hongrui Qiu, Shizhe Zhou
Summary: This study aimed to diagnose key areas of surface-line-point ecological restoration and propose corresponding repair strategies using the evaluation of the degree of urban ecological resilience restriction and the construction of an ecological network. The research provides a reference for scientifically identifying key areas of ecological restoration in territorial space and optimizing the allocation of natural resources.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qinhua Wang, Yongping Wei, Le Chen, Huijuan Pei, Penglong Wang, Bao Wang, Taibao Yang
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of ecological policies in the national key ecological functional areas (NKEFAs) since 1990, using Tianzhu County as a case study. The impact of policies on agriculture, animal husbandry, population, and the overall ecosystem was analyzed using quantitative analysis and the partial least squares (PLS) method. The results showed that policies have a direct impact on specific industries and population, as well as an indirect impact on the overall ecosystem. This research highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of ecological governance policies on ecosystems in NKEFAs and provides guidance for policy making.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Garau Enrica, Pueyo-Ros Josep, Jimenez-Aceituno Amanda, Peterson Garry, Norstrom Albert, Ribas Palom Anna, Vila-Subiros Josep
Summary: This study uses participatory mapping to examine the relationship between ecosystem services and landscape features in the Mediterranean river basin areas of Catalonia, Spain. The results show that stakeholders' perceptions of ecosystem supply areas are strongly associated with landscape features, and visible geographical features play an important role in the perception of ecosystem service supply areas.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhaokun Zhang, Tao Li, Ling Li, Shuang Li, Yuejing Rong, Rui Bao, Xiao Fu, Mingfang Tang, Gang Wu
Summary: Ecological protection and restoration are crucial in reversing the ecological degradation caused by climate change and human activities. This study focused on the Miyun Reservoir Basin and evaluated the spatial patterns of ecosystem service importance, stability, and quality degradation. Priority areas for ecological protection and restoration were identified, and differentiated ecosystem management strategies were proposed. The results showed an increase in important areas for water conservation, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation, but with spatial differences among ecosystem services.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenhuan Liu, Qiandu Huang, Yi Zhou, Xiao Sun
Summary: Rapid urbanization has led to changes in urban ecosystems, necessitating the planning of ecological restoration to combat ecological degradation. This study, using the Shenzhen metropolitan region as a case study, identified priority sites for ecological restoration based on the evolution of ecological service bundles and the effects of urbanization. The results showed that urbanization significantly influenced the composition and structure of ecological service bundles at different stages of urbanization.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jie Xu, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Yangyang Wang, Yuan Jiang
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Xu, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Yangyang Wang, Yuan Jiang
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gaodi Xie, Jingya Liu, Jie Xu, Yu Xiao, Lin Zhen, Changshun Zhang, Yangyang Wang, Keyu Qin, Shuang Gan, Yuan Jiang
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Xu, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Yangyang Wang, Lin Zhen, Changshun Zhang, Yuan Jiang
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jie Xu, Shuo Wang, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Yangyang Wang, Changshun Zhang, Ping Li, Guangchun Lei
Summary: This study selected and assessed 8 representative ES types in Ningxia, revealing the tradeoff or synergistic relationships between paired ESs and their linkages with socioecological driving factors. Spatiotemporal dynamic changes in ESBs were mapped in Ningxia from 2000 to 2015, showing significant differences in natural and socioeconomic conditions from south to north in the region. The results highlighted the coupled relationships among these ESs and certain achievements in ecological construction in Ningxia, with most ES pairs mainly positively correlated at all scales.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yingnan Niu, Gaodi Xie, Yu Xiao, Jingya Liu, Yangyang Wang, Qi Luo, Huixia Zou, Shuang Gan, Keyu Qin, Mengdong Huang
Summary: The study revealed that China's total grain production increased significantly over a 30-year period, mainly concentrated in the northeast-southwest direction. Grain consumption was primarily focused in the central and eastern regions of China, especially in East and Central China. Overall, the pattern of self-sufficiency in grain production developed well during the study period.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jie Xu, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Jingya Liu, Keyu Qin, Yangyang Wang, Changshun Zhang, Guangchun Lei
Summary: This study uses water supply services as an example to establish a framework for interregional ecological compensation, revealing that most regions play dual roles as both water suppliers and users in the process, requiring corresponding ecological compensation based on the situation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Yingnan Niu, Gaodi Xie, Yu Xiao, Keyu Qin, Jingya Liu, Yangyang Wang, Shuang Gan, Mengdong Huang, Jia Liu, Caixia Zhang, Changshun Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to address the issue of waste of water, land, and human resources in cotton seed production in Xinjiang, China. By investigating the spatial suitability of climate, land and water resources, and infrastructure, suitable areas for different cotton species were identified. The results showed that the western Tarim Basin in Xinjiang is the superior area for producing cotton seed of EMC, EMMC, and LSC.
Article
Agronomy
Yingnan Niu, Gaodi Xie, Yu Xiao, Jingya Liu, Huixia Zou, Keyu Qin, Yangyang Wang, Mengdong Huang
Summary: This study investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of grain self-sufficiency at the county level in China. It found that the number of counties with self-insufficiency decreased while those with high-level self-sufficiency increased. In the future, China's overall grain self-sufficiency and ration self-sufficiency levels are expected to improve, especially under maximum grain yield increase rate.
FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yangyang Wang, Yu Xiao, Gaodi Xie, Jie Xu, Keyu Qin, Jingya Liu, Yingnan Niu, Shuang Gan, Mengdong Huang, Lin Zhen
Summary: This study simulated the spatiotemporal patterns of the Wind Erosion Prevention Service (WEPS) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2015, showing an increasing and then decreasing trend, with high-value areas gradually expanding to the west and east.
Article
Environmental Studies
Shuang Gan, Yu Xiao, Keyu Qin, Jingya Liu, Jie Xu, Yangyang Wang, Yingnan Niu, Mengdong Huang, Gaodi Xie
Summary: This study quantifies and analyzes multiple ecosystem services in Shenyang, China to reveal the trade-offs and synergies among different services, and identifies the different bundles and driving factors of ecosystem services. The results provide reference information for ecosystem management and land use regulation in Shenyang.