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Impacts of Human Activities on Ecosystem Service Value in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecological Regions of China

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  • Xin Fan

    (School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, China
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Haoran Yu

    (Anhui Urbanization Development Research Center, Hefei 230022, China)

  • Damien Sinonmatohou Tiando

    (School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Yuejing Rong

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Wenxu Luo

    (International Education College, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Chan Eme

    (School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Shengya Ou

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Jiangfeng Li

    (School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Zhe Liang

    (Anhui Urbanization Development Research Center, Hefei 230022, China)

Abstract

The quantitative and spatial–temporal variations in the characteristics of ecosystem value can be helpful to improve environmental protection and climate adaptation measures and adjust the balance between economic development and the ecological environment. The arid and semi-arid regions of China are undergoing the effects of climate change across the entire northern hemisphere. Their ecological environments are fragile and in conflict with anthropogenic activities, which significantly altered more ecosystems services in these regions. Therefore, estimating the effects of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem services is important for formulating ecological policy and regional environmental mitigation plans of these regions. This study employed the model of ecosystem service value (ESV) assessment and the bivariate spatial autocorrelation method to reveal the spatiotemporal variations in the characteristics of ecosystem value in the arid and semi-arid ecological regions of China and its interaction with human activities. Results showed that (1) the total value of ES of the study area increased from USD 487,807 billion in 2000 to USD 67,831,150 billion 2020; (2) the ES value provided by forest land first increased by 5.60% from 2000 to 2020; (3) the ESV provided by grassland showed an overall decline over the 20 years. Food and raw material production showed the lowest ES value, and climate regulation and soil conservation decreased from 2000 to 2020; (4) the index of human footprint patches decreased from 45.80% in 2000 to 17.63% in 2020, while the high and very high human footprint index areas increased significantly, mainly due to the rapid urbanization and improvement of railway networks in these areas. Spatially, the regions with high human footprint were mostly dispersed in the northeastern of China such as Shanxi and Gansu, whereas the regions with a low human footprint remained mainly located in the central and southwestern parts of China; (5) significant spatial dependencies between changes in ESV and the human footprint index were recorded. Our study could provide a scientific basis for ecosystem functions regulation and land development security in arid and semi-arid ecological regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Fan & Haoran Yu & Damien Sinonmatohou Tiando & Yuejing Rong & Wenxu Luo & Chan Eme & Shengya Ou & Jiangfeng Li & Zhe Liang, 2021. "Impacts of Human Activities on Ecosystem Service Value in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecological Regions of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11121-:d:662608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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