Response of Ecosystem Services to Human Activities in Gonghe Basin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Gonghe Basin is an important frontier of resource and energy development and environmental protection on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and upper sections of the Yellow River. As a characteristic ecotone, this area exhibits complex and diverse ecosystem types while demonstrating marked ecological vulnerability. The response of ecosystem services (ESs) to human activities (HAs) is directly related to the sustainable construction of an ecological civilization highland and the decision-making and implementation of high-quality development. However, this response relationship is unclear in the Gonghe Basin. Based on remote sensing data, land use, meteorological, soil, and digital elevation model data, the current research determined the human activity intensity (HAI) in the Gonghe Basin by reclassifying HAs and modifying the intensity coefficient. Employing the InVEST model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation methods, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of HAI and ESs and responses of ESs to HAs in Gonghe Basin from 2000 to 2020 were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrate that: From 2000 to 2020, the HAI in the Gonghe Basin mainly reflected low-intensity HA, although the spatial range of HAI continued to expand. Single plantation and town construction activities exhibited high-intensity areas that spread along the northwest-southeast axis; composite activities such as tourism services and energy development showed medium-intensity areas of local growth, while the environmental supervision activity maintained a low-intensity wide-area distribution pattern. Over the past two decades, the four key ESs of water yield, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and habitat quality exhibited distinct yet interconnected characteristics. From 2000 to 2020, HAs were significantly negatively correlated with ESs in Gonghe Basin. The spatial aggregation of HAs and ESs was mainly low-high and high-low, while the aggregation of HAs and individual services differed. These findings offer valuable insights for balancing and coordinating socio-economic development with resource exploitation in Gonghe Basin.