Assessment of Ecosystem Service Value and Implementation Pathways: A Case Study of Jiangsu Jianchuan Ecological Restoration Project

Over recent decades, coastal wetlands in Jiangsu Province have faced multiple challenges, including overfishing, reclamation for aquaculture, wetland shrinkage, and biodiversity loss. Implementing wetland ecological restoration proves crucial for mitigating the degradation of coastal wetland ecosystems. Quantifying ecosystem service values and establishing rational ecological compensation standards provide essential references for ecological compensation research and alleviating human–land conflicts. The Jianchuan Ecological Restoration Project, located in Dafeng District of Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, employs integrated wetland, woodland, and farmland construction to rebuild biodiversity, enhance water conservation capacity, and improve water purification functions, thereby significantly boosting regional ecological services. Results have demonstrated that the total ecosystem service value of this project reaches CNY 76.2896 million, with climate regulation representing the highest value (CNY 68.1496 million, 89.33% of total). Subsequent values include biodiversity maintenance (3.40%), water purification (3.31%), and food production (2.95%), while carbon sequestration/oxygen release (0.96%) and soil retention (0.05%) show relatively lower contributions. Notably, this project innovatively integrates carbon finance mechanisms through “carbon sink loans”, achieving efficient transformation of ecological value from “paper accounts” to market realization. This study establishes a scientific foundation for ecological restoration projects through ecosystem service-based value assessment and pathway exploration, offering both theoretical framework and practical references.