Changes of ecosystem service values in response to land use/land cover dynamics in Munessa-Shashemene landscape of the Ethiopian highlands

Coupling effect of landscape patterns on the spatial and temporal distribution of ecosystem services: a case study in Harbin City, Northeast China

To secure the enduring the long-term growth of ecosystem services, the city of Harbin in northeastern China must prioritize the optimization of its landscape pattern. However, there is a dearth of studies pertaining to the geospatial repercussions of landscape patterns on ecosystem services. This study examined the properties of spatio-temporal evolution of Harbin's landscape patterns from 2000 to 2020 and six essential ecosystem services: food supply, water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage, water purification, and habitat quality. It used the geographical detector (GD) to reveal the effects of landscape pattern changes on ecosystem services and the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to map ecosystem services' responses to changes in landscape pattern heterogeneity. The results showed that from 2000 to 2020, the landscape types in Harbin tended to become richer, the spatial heterogeneity increased, and the degree of fragmentation decreased significantly. Water yield continued to increase, habitat quality slightly improved, soil conservation and carbon storage initially decreased and then increased, and water purification and food supply first increased and then decreased. Landscape pattern evolution had a substantial impact on ecosystem services. Landscape composition had a greater influence on ecosystem services than did landscape configuration in Harbin City, with the proportion of agricultural land, the proportion of woodland, the largest patch index, and the aggregation index having a greater effect on ecosystem services. A significant challenge in territorial spatial planning is how to develop distinct ecosystem services in a balanced fashion, because in the majority of cases, the effects of landscape patterns on individual services are different or even opposing. To optimize local landscape patterns and develop total ecosystem services in a balanced manner, policymakers can use the study's results, which emphasize the complex response of ecosystem services to changes in landscape patterns, to develop more accurate spatial planning strategies and plans.

Exploring the quality of ecosystem services and the segmental impact of influencing factors in resource-based cities

The changes in ecosystems of resource-based cities are closely related to human activities and resource extraction. Understanding the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of ecosystems and identifying the main influencing factors on ecosystem services are crucial for optimizing the spatial security pattern of resource-based cities. Previous studies have seldom examined how different factors affect various levels of ecosystem service value (ESV) in segmented ways. This study presents a case study of a typical resource-based city to examine the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of ecosystem services. Furthermore, it employs a spatial quantile regression model to investigate the differentiated impacts of various influencing factors on these ecosystem services. The results indicate that: (1) In the past two decades, the intensity of land use in Tangshan continued to increase, with significant transfer effects between arable land and construction land. The overall ESV in Tangshan showed a fluctuating decline. (2) The area of low-ESV clustering has significantly expanded, with regulating and supporting services being the primary types of ecosystem services, and there is a significant synergistic effect among various ecosystems. (3) Precipitation is the dominant factor enhancing ESV in the region, while mineral extraction activities are the main pressure source threatening high-ESV areas, and the integrity of land use presents a major barrier to improving low-ESV areas. It is crucial to effectively control the boundaries of mineral resource extraction, delineate key protected areas, and restricted development zones.

The Golden Afromontane ecosystems at cross-road: Wetland-based upstream-downstream linkage in Genale Dawa River Basin

Understanding the relationship between land use and land cover (LULC) change and wetland-based ecosystem services (WESs) is crucial for sustaining wetlands and maintaining hydrological connectivity in the Genale-Dawa River Basin (GDRB). While the quantification of LULC change has received considerable emphasis, WESs are often overlooked in this region. This research aims to analyze LULC change and estimate the potential ecosystem services (ESs) provided by the GDRB. Data were collected through field observations, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, with respondents selected using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Landsat images between 2005 and 2020, along with documents review, were utilized to generate datasets. A stakeholders' consultation forum and expert judgment were employed to understand the historical ecology of WESs in the GDRB. Results showed that: (1) LULC change occurred non-linearly in the GDRB, with agricultural land continuously increasing while forestland, woodland, and grassland decreased between 2005 and 2020; (2) the estimated ecosystem service value (ESV) of the GDRB was approximately US $10,360.28 million in 2005 and US $9033.06 million per year in 2020, indicating a decline of 12.81 %, resulting in a total net loss of US $1327.22 million from the basin. Although provisioning ESV has increased, regulating, supporting, and cultural ESVs have experienced significant losses. The increase in provisioning ESV does not compensate for the overall decline in ESVs in the GDRB. Soil compaction in the upstream part of the GDRB has diminished recharge potential and enhanced flooding downstream, jeopardizing sustainable hydrological connectivity in the basin. This situation has placed the basin at risk and at a critical crossroads. Notably, the upstream landscape is now more exposed to anthropogenic pressures than in the past, with clear impacts observed both locally and downstream. Therefore, robust law enforcement and awareness-raising efforts are essential, along with targeted rehabilitation initiatives in the GDRB.

Multi-scenario prediction of ecosystem services value and mechanism of its trade-offs under the township scale-evidence from Liaoning province

Land use changes alter the capacity for the stable provisioning of regional ecosystem services, and the rational integration of ecological and economic benefits has become a critical challenge. The values of 11 specific ecosystem service functions and ecosystem service trade-off degrees were estimated. The Pearson correlation coefficient method and spatial autocorrelation were then utilized to investigate the relationship between these variables. The results showed that (1) the value of ecosystem services in Liaoning province increased by a total of 18.08 billion over the last two decades. The contribution of both water bodies and forest land accounted for more than 80% of this growth. Additionally, hydrological and climate regulation emerged as the most important ecosystem service functions. (2) In comparison to the natural development scenario, the tradeoffs in the economic development scenario were somewhat stronger, while the degree and direction of the interactions in the ecological protection scenario were altered, and synergistic relationships were reinforced. (3) 'High-high' aggregation primarily occurred between regulating services, provisioning services, and other ecosystem services, while 'low-low' aggregation occurred between provisioning services and other ecosystem services. These findings provide a scientific framework for Liaoning province to effectively integrate economic development and ecological protection.

Land use dynamics and ecosystem service valuation in the Sanmenxia Reservoir wetland of the Yellow River

The Sanmenxia Reservoir wetland (SRW) serves as a critical ecological buffer in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Ongoing population growth and changes in land use have placed significant pressure on the wetland's ecosystems. However, existing research has yet to establish a spatiotemporal analysis method to assess the impact of land use change on the ecosystem service value (ESV). This gap hinders the precise regulation and sustainable development of land resources. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the land use dynamics and ecological functions of the SRW, this study introduced a refined ESV evaluation method. This method revised the equivalent factors from spatial, temporal, and hydrological perspectives, with an emphasis on the impact of sediment discharge. Furthermore, the Patch-level Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model was employed to project the land use structure in 2030, and the corresponding ESV was analyzed. The study revealed the following: (1) Cropland constituted the primary land type in the SRW. Over the last two decades, the build-up area exhibited the most significant single land use dynamics, with the transformation of bare land to cropland spanning the widest range and largest area. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the ESV increased by 0.64 billion CNY, with the water body contributing almost all the increase. (3) The projected ESV for 2030 is 2.94 billion CNY, indicating an increase in ecological functions in the near future. Policy makers should recognizethe impact of land use change on ESV and implement measures to rebalance land use structure. While ensuring the preservation of cropland and the protection of lives and property, it is advisable to consider expanding the water body area to facilitate comprehensive sustainable development within SRW.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem services in response to climate variability in Maze National Park and its environs, southwestern Ethiopia

Climate variability is one of the major factors affecting the supply of ecosystem services and the well-being of people who rely on them. Despite the substantial effects of climate variability on ecosystem goods and services, empirical researches on these effects are generally lacking. Thus, this study examines the spatiotemporal impacts of climate variability on selected ecosystem services in Maze National Park and its surroundings, in southwestern Ethiopia. We conducted climate trend and variability analysis by using the Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test, Sen's slope estimator, and innovative trend analysis (ITA). Relationships among ecosystem services and climate variables were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), while partial correlation was used to evaluate the relationship among key ecosystem services and potential evapotranspiration (PET). The MK tests show a decreasing trend for both mean annual and main rainy season rainfall, with Sen's slope (β) = -0.721 and β = -0.1.23, respectively. Whereas, the ITA method depicted a significant increase in the second rainy season rainfall (Slope(s) = 1.487), and the mean annual (s = 0.042), maximum (s = 0.024), and minimum (s = 0.060) temperature. Spatial correlations revealed significant positive relationships between ecosystem services and the mean annual rainfall and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), while negative correlations with the mean annual temperature. Additionally, temporal correlations highlighted positive relationships among key ecosystem services and the main rainy season rainfall. The maximum and minimum temperatures and ecosystem services were negatively correlated; whereas, there was strong negative correlations between annual (r = -0.929), main rainy season (r = -0.990), and second rainy season (r = -0.814) PET and food production. Thus, understanding the spatiotemporal variability of climate and the resulting impacts on ecosystem services helps decision-makers design ecosystem conservation and restoration strategies to increase the potential of the ecosystems to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability.

Assessing changes in the ecosystem service value in response to land use and land cover dynamics in Malawi

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are inevitable outcomes of socioeconomic changes and greatly affect ecosystem services. Our study addresses the critical gap in the existing literature by providing the first comprehensive national analysis of LULC changes and their impacts on ecosystem service values (ESVs) in Malawi. We assessed changes in ecosystem service values (ESVs) in response to LULC changes using the benefit transfer method in ArcGIS 10.6 software. Our findings revealed a significant increase in grasslands, croplands, and urban areas and a notable decline in forests, shrubs, wetlands, and water bodies. Grassland, cropland, and built-up areas expanded by 52%, 1%, and 23.2%, respectively. In contrast, permanent wetlands, barren land, and water bodies declined by 27.6%, 34.3%, and 1%, respectively. The ESV declined from US$90.87 billion in 2001 to US$85.60 billion in 2022, marking a 5.8% reduction. Provisioning services increased by 0.5% while regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem service functions declined by 12.2%, 3.16%, and 3.22%, respectively. The increase in provisioning services was due to the expansion of cropland. However, the loss of regulating, supporting, and cultural services was mainly due to the loss of natural ecosystems. Thus, environmental policy should prioritise the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems to enhance the ESV of Malawi.

Restore polder and aquaculture enclosure to the lake: Balancing environmental protection and economic growth for sustainable development

The restoration of lakes and their buffer zones is crucial for understanding the intricate interplay between human activities and natural ecosystems resulting from the implementation of environmental policies. In this study, we investigated the ecological restoration of shallow lakes and buffer zones in the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin, specifically focusing on the removal of polder and aquaculture enclosure areas within the lakes. By examining data from eight shallow lakes and their corresponding buffer zones, encompassing lake morphology, water quality parameters, and land use/land cover (LULC) data spanning from 2008 to 2022, which shed light on the complex relationships involved. During the process of restoring polder and aquaculture enclosure areas, we observed a general decrease in the extent of polders and aquaculture enclosures within the lakes. Notably, the removal of aquaculture enclosures had a more pronounced effect (reduction rate of 83.37 %) compared to the withdrawal of polders (reduction rate of 48.76 %). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant decrease in the concentrations of seven water quality parameters, including COD, CODMn, TN, TP, NH3-N, Chl-a, and F, while pH and DO factors exhibit a distinct increasing trend. The results of redundancy analysis and Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlations between the area of polders and aquaculture enclosures and the changes in lake water quality. Encouragingly, the withdrawal of polders and the removal of aquaculture enclosures had a positive impact on the lake water quality improvement. In contrast, the LULC in the buffer zones of the lakes experienced a gradual decline owing to land degradation, resulting in a reduction in ecosystem service value (ESV). These results offer valuable support for policymakers in their endeavors to restore lake water quality, mitigate the degradation of buffer zones land, and promote the sustainable development of land and water resources.

Quantifying spatiotemporal dynamics in the Kolonnawa marsh of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Kolonnawa marsh (KM) is an important wetland ecosystem in Colombo district, Sri Lanka that provides essential ecosystem services, and has undergone significant changes over recent decades due to continuous exploitation and reclamation. The values of wetlands are disregarded by decision-makers, despite the fact that they are crucial for improving the quality of water and offer chances for relaxation and amusement in metropolitan areas. Underestimation of the value of wetlands contributes to their continuing deterioration and inevitable loss. Investigating the changes in wetlands can provide crucial information for decision-making. This study aimed to monitor the spatiotemporal land-cover dynamics of KM with the prospect prediction as reduced total extent of KM gradually with time and marsh area being transformed into terrestrial vegetation with time. The collective images from Google Earth (2000 to 2021) and drone data (2022) were analyzed with the GIS application. Subsequently, 50-m2 grid squares with unique cell IDs are designed to link among land cover maps for spatiotemporal land-cover change analysis. Then, we calculate land cover category: surface water, marsh, and terrestrial vegetation proportions for each map in 50-m2 grid cells. Statistical comparison of the land cover changes in grid square cells shows that each land cover category has significant change with the time. The results showed that the reduction of KM marsh resulting in land cover changes has a positive implication on wetland degradation. Thus, interventions should be made for the restoration and sustainable management of KM.

Assessment of the environmental impacts of conflict-driven Internally Displaced Persons: A sentinel-2 satellite based analysis of land use/cover changes in the Kas locality, Darfur, Sudan

Internal displacement of populations due to armed conflicts can substantially impact a region's Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) and the efforts towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of conflict-driven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on vegetation cover and environmental sustainability in the Kas locality of Darfur, Sudan. Supervised classification and change analysis were performed on Sentinel-2 satellite images for the years 2016 and 2022 using QGIS software. The Sentinel-2 Level 2A data were analysed using the Random Forest (RF) Machine Learning (ML) classifier. Five land cover types were successfully classified (agricultural land, vegetation cover, built-up area, sand, and bareland) with overall accuracies of more than 86% and Kappa coefficients greater than 0.74. The results revealed a 35.33% (-10.20 km2) decline in vegetation cover area over the six-year study period, equivalent to an average annual loss rate of -5.89% (-1.70 km2) of vegetation cover. In contrast, agricultural land and built-up areas increased by 17.53% (98.12 km2) and 60.53% (5.29 km2) respectively between the two study years. The trends of the changes among different LULC classes suggest potential influences of human activities especially the IDPs, natural processes, and a combination of both in the study area. This study highlights the impacts of IDPs on natural resources and land cover patterns in a conflict-affected region. It also offers pertinent data that can support decision-makers in restoring the affected areas and preventing further environmental degradation for sustainability.

Impacts of Land use Land cover dynamics on Ecosystem services in maze national park and its environs, southwestern Ethiopia

This study investigated the impacts of LULC changes on selected ecosystem services in Maze National Park (MzNP) and its environs in southwestern Ethiopia. Landsat images from 1985, 2005, and 2020 were used to examine land use land cover (LULC) changes. Images were classified using the Random Forest (RF) classifier, and their accuracy was computed in QGIS. Ecosystem service values (ESVs) were then estimated using the benefit transfer method employing Ecosystem Service Valuation Database (ESVD) coefficients. Additionally, socioeconomic survey was conducted to understand the local community's perceptions regarding the dynamics of ecosystem services. The findings revealed a significant increase in croplands (103.7 %) and built-up areas (31.32 %), while riverine forests, water bodies, and wooded grasslands declined. The overall ESVs decreased by 20 %, from 2038.42 million USD in 1985 to 1628.72 million USD in 2020, mainly driven by reductions in riverine forests and wooded grasslands. As for the individual ESVs for the period 1985 to 2020, only food production increased by 0.7 million USD, while water supply, climate regulation, raw materials, and recreation and tourism declined by 180.35, 2.67, 45.72, and 481.62 million USD, respectively. The coefficient of sensitivity ranged from 0.01 to 0.94, <1, revealed that our estimates are relatively robust. Ecosystem services such as grazing, recreation, wild food, and firewood are highly valued by local residents, but they are declining over time due to environmental degradation and restrictions on access to the park. Thus, understanding LULC changes and their impacts on ESVs can help decision-makers design effective protected area management plans and reduce potential conflicts over resource uses. Further investigations are suggested to more accurately quantify ESVs using high resolution satellite imageries and different valuation methods.

Reconciling and contextualising multi-dimensional aspects for consolidated water security index: A synthesis

The present paper aims to review and develop a Consolidated Water Security Index (CWSI) as a tool to evaluate water security status within river basins by considering five key dimensions, namely (i) water supply and sanitation, (ii) water demand and socio-economic, (iii) water ecosystem and environment, (iv) water-related disaster and (v) water governance. This index is a holistic assessment since it aims to capture the interconnected and complex nature of water-related issues by considering multiple dimensional aspects which helps stakeholders and policymakers to understand the overall status of water security. This framework uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), involving pairwise comparison, normalisation and weighting. Then, a CWSI will be calculated using the Linear Aggregation method. The robustness of this consolidated index is validated using sensitivity analysis by modifying the weight in the linear aggregation formula. By following each step cautiously, a CWSI can be constructed and interpreted correctly, thus, becoming a powerful tool for conveying complex information to the different stakeholders and assessing the status of water security with river basins. The CWSI allows decision-makers to prioritise areas that are most at risk and facilitate sustainable planning and management of water resources.

Assessing the impact of Land use changes on ecosystem services in the Alledighe rangeland, Ethiopia

Understanding the ecological, social, and economic values of protected areas, as well as assessing the services they provide to both humans and the environment is crucial for informing conservation policies and sustainable land management practices. Using the benefits transfer method, changes in ecosystem service values (ESVs) resulting from spatiotemporal land use dynamics were evaluated in the Alledighe Wildlife Reserve (AWR) spanning from 1998 to 2016. Five distinct habitat types, namely grassland, bushland, woodland, riverine forest, and highland forest, were identified across the landscape. The ESVs were estimated using regional and global ESV values. A decline in the extent of grassland, woodland, and riverine forests by 9.9%, 2.4%, and 1.5%, respectively, was observed while bushland and highland forests increased by 10.6% and 3.3%, respectively. The AWR experienced a loss of roughly 145 km2 of grassland habitat. Based on regional and global ESVs, total ESVs in the study area decreased by 28.18% from approximately US$ 180 million to approximately US$ 129 million, and by 40.85% from approximately US$ 496 million to approximately US$ 293 million. As per individual ESV assessment, the total ESV decreased by 41% from around US$ 374.5 million to US$ 264.8 million. Provisioning service declined by 41.6% from US$ 100 million to US$ 70.6 million. Regulating service declined by 42.5% from US$ 242.4 million to US$ 170 million. Supporting service declined by 67% from US$ 5.3 million to US$ 3.2 million, and cultural service decreased by 27.8% from US$ 26.7 million to US$ 20.8 million. The larger ESV change was contributed by the expansion of forestland and bushland across previously grassland-dominated areas. The results of this study could render the value of the rangeland more visible in the decision-making process, as well as provide valuable input for future planning and management interventions of the AWR's pristine rangeland, thereby enhancing ecosystem services and the livelihoods of the surrounding communities.

Dynamic simulation and projection of ESV changes in arid regions caused by urban growth under climate change scenarios

Spatial simulation and projection of ecosystem services value (ESV) changes caused by urban growth are important for sustainable development in arid regions. We developed a new model of cellular automata based grasshopper optimization algorithm (named GOA-CA) for simulating urban growth patterns and assessing the impacts of urban growth on ESV changes under climate change scenarios. The results show that GOA-CA yielded overall accuracy exceeding 98%, and FOM for 2010 and 2020 were 43.2% and 38.1%, respectively, indicating the effectiveness of the model. The prairie lost the highest economic ESVs (192 million USD) and the coniferous yielded the largest economic ESV increase (292 million USD) during 2000-2020. Using climate change scenarios as urban future land use demands, we projected three scenarios of the urban growth of Urumqi for 2050 and their impacts on ESV. Our model can be easily applied to simulating urban development, analyzing its impact on ESV and projecting future scenarios in global arid regions.

Changes in total and per-capital ecosystem service value in response to land-use land-cover dynamics in north-central Ethiopia

Ecosystems provide a wide range of services crucial for human well-being and decision-making processes at various levels. This study analyzed the major land cover types of north-central Ethiopia and their impact on total and per-capita ecosystem service value (ESV). The ESV was estimated using the benefit-transfer method along the established global and local coefficient values for the periods 1973, 1986, 2001, 2016, and 2024. The findings show that agricultural lands continued to expand at a rate of 563.4 ha year-1, at the expense of forests and grasslands. As a result, the total ESV of the study area declined from $101.4 to $61.03 million and $60.08-$43.69 million, respectively. The ESV per capita was also diminished by $152.4 (37.7%) and $257 (40.6%), respectively. However, land-cover improvement during the period 2001-2016 enhanced the total and per capita ESV in the study area. Therefore, potential future research may be required to develop a valid approach for assessing the robustness and sensitivity of value coefficients for the valuation of the ESV at the landscape level.

Response of hydrological ecosystem services to land-use change and risk assessment in Jiangxi Province, China

Water bodies provide humans with important hydrological ecosystem services (HESs), directly or indirectly. Water yield, water conservation, and soil conservation are essential to HESs. Since China's reform and opening up, and with its rapid socio-economic development, land use in Jiangxi Province has undergone drastic change, resulting in threats to the ecological environment. This paper evaluates three HESs, water yield, water conservation, and soil conservation, in Jiangxi Province based on land use and rainfall data, quantifies the impacts of different land classes on each ecosystem, predicts future land use using the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, and finally, discusses the ecological risks in the study area. The following results were obtained: (1) The HESs in the basin increased and then decreased from 2000 to 2020, and the spatial distribution of water yield and water conservation was greatly influenced by rainfall. Soil conservation was mostly consistent with the elevation distribution. (2) Over time, the overall aggregation of HESs in the study area increased. There were small differences in the effects of various land uses on water yield and water conservation, and large differences in the effects on soil conservation. (3) The distribution of ecological risks was not affected by different land use strategies, with the lower ecological risk level 1 dominating. Most risk areas were present in Ganzhou, Ji'an, Shangrao, and Jiujiang. The ecological risk from urban sprawl (US) accounted for the most significant proportion, and that from the ecological protection (EP) strategy accounted for the lowest proportion. This study provides reference for sustainable land use development and ecological risk prevention in the study area.

A socio-ecological and geospatial approach for evaluation of ecosystem services to communities of the Eastern Himalayan Region, India

Mountains are one of the most ecological functional areas and provide wide range of ecosystem services (ESs) to the adjoining people. However, the mountainous ESs are highly vulnerable due to land use and land cover (LULC) change and climate change. Therefore, evaluations of the nexus between ESs and mountainous communities are essentially required for policy purpose. This study aims to assess ESs by analyzing LULC focusing in three ecosystems (forest, agriculture, and home garden) from urban and peri-urban areas for last 3 decades, applying participatory and geospatial approaches for a mountainous city in Eastern Himalayan Region (EHR), India. The findings showed that a substantial loss in ESs has occurred during the period. Moreover, there were substantial variations of ecosystem importance and dependency between urban and peri-urban areas with highest importance of provisioning ESs in peri-urban areas and cultural ESs in urban areas. Moreover, among the three ecosystems, forests were strongly supporting the peri-urban areas communities. The result demonstrated that the communities are highly dependent on various ESs for their livelihoods, but the changes of LULC had substantial impact on the loss of ESs. Therefore, implementation of effective land uses planning strategies and measures for ecological security and livelihood sustainability is to be managed with people participation in mountainous areas.

Evaluating the impact of land use and land cover changes on forest ecosystem service values using landsat dataset in the Atwima Nwabiagya North, Ghana

This study investigated land use and land cover (LULC) changes and its impact on forest ecosystem service values for 20 years in the Atwima Nwabaiagya North District using Landsat images of 2002, 2012 and 2022. Supervised classification with Maximum Likelihood Algorithm was used to classify the Landsat images. Five LULC types (high-dense forest, low-dense forest, water, bare-ground, and Built-up area) were successfully classified, with overall accuracies of 99.0 % and Kappa coefficients of 0.99. The result of the study showed a reduction of high-dense forest to 23.87 %, low-dense forest to 26.53 %, and water areas as 1.16 % whereas built-up (21.44 %) and bare-ground (27 %) experienced an expansion in their land areas. Related literatures and ecological assets value table with adjusted price value were used to evaluate ecosystem service values in response to LULC changes. The study discovered that ecosystem service value for high and low-dense forests have declined from USD 22.68 million and USD 8.75 million to USD 14.56 million and USD 5.2 million respectively. The overall total ecosystem service value declined by USD 33.73 million in 2002 to USD 21.91 million in 2022. It was revealed that the most notable feature to changes in forest ecosystem service values was the expansion of built-up and bare-grounds. There is a need to curb the current drivers of LULC changes in the Atwima Nwabiagya North to stop further forest degradation for optimum delivery of forest ecosystem service values in the district. For land use planners and decision makers who need site-specific information on the effects of LULC alterations on values of forest ecosystem services, the study's findings are essential. This will make it easier to track past environmental changes and obtain quick, accurate results for use in decision-making.

How does water diversion affect land use change and ecosystem service: A case study of Baiyangdian wetland, China

Baiyangdian wetland is the biggest plant-dominated shallow freshwater wetland in Huabei Plain, providing a wide range of ecosystem services. In the past few decades, the water scarcity and eco-environmental problems resulted from climate changes and human activities have become more and more serious. To relieve the pressure of water scarcity and ecological degradation, the government has implemented ecological water diversion projects (EWDPs) since 1992. In this study, land use and land cover change (LUCC) caused by EWDPs over three decades was analyzed to quantitatively assess the impact of EWDPs on ecosystem services. Coefficients of ecosystem service value (ESV) calculation were improved for regional ESV evaluation. The results showed that the area of construction, farmland and water increased by 6171, 2827, 1393 ha, respectively, and the total ESV increased by 8.04 × 108 CNY primarily due to the increase of regulating service with water area expansion. Redundancy analysis and socio-economic comprehensive analysis showed that EWDPs impacted water area and ESV with threshold and time effect. When the water diversion exceeded the threshold, the EWDPs affected the ESV through influencing LUCC; otherwise, the EWDPs affected the ESV through influencing net primary productivity or social-economic benefits. However, the impact of EWDPs on ESV gradually weakened as time passed, which could not keep sustainability. With the establishment of Xiong'an New Area in China and implementation of carbon neutrality policy, rational EWDPs will become crucial to achieve goals of ecological restoration.

Land use and land cover changes and their impact on ecosystem service values in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia

The land use and land cover (LULC) changes driven by the growing demands of mankind have a considerable effect on ecosystem services and functions. The study was carried out in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia to (1) analyze the effect of LULC changes between 1984 and 2021 and (2) assess the spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem service values (ESVs) and elasticity in response to LULC changes. Using Landsat imageries from 1984 to 2021, the spatiotemporal changes in LULC were evaluated with supervised image classification using maximum likelihood algorithm in ArcGIS software. Six LULC types were subsequently categorized, with overall accuracy and Kappa coefficients above 87% and 0.87, respectively. The ESVs were then estimated based on the Benefit Value Transfer (BVT) approach employing modified conservative value coefficients. The findings revealed a significant increase in cultivated land (9759.1ha) and built-up area (10174.41ha) during the stipulated periods and a drop in other land use types. The forest loss gradually decreased from 4.1% in the second period (1991-2001) to 0.58% in the third (2001-2021), compared to the first of the 1.1% conversion rates. Similarly, the proportion of grassland and water bodies steadily reduced over the stipulated periods, by 1.15% and 2.3% per annum, respectively. The overall loss of ESVs in the study landscape was estimated to be 54.4 million US$ (67.3%), drastically decreasing from 80.3 million US$ in 1984 to 26.4 million US$ in 2021, driven by the declining area coverage of water bodies, grassland, and forestland. Regardless of the loss, the ecosystem functions of hydrological regulation (37.2, 35.0, 6.1, and 5.1 US$ ha-1yr-1), water supply (14.5, 13.6, 2.4, and 2 US$ ha-1yr-1), and food production (9.8, 10.0, 9.1, and 9.9 US$ ha-1yr-1) contributed the most to the total ESV of each year while disturbance regulation and cultural values were the least throughout the study periods. The coefficient of sensitivity (CS) analysis revealed that our estimates were relatively robust. The findings further showed that human-dominated land-uses at the expense of natural ecosystems are the primary drivers of LULC transitions and the ensuing loss of ecosystem services in the region. Thus, this calls for intensive work on more effective land use policies that encourage an integrated management approach, with a focus on safeguarding the sustainability of natural ecosystems.

Effect of forest cover change on ecosystem services in central highlands of Ethiopia: A case of Wof-Washa forest

Forest provides a wide range of ecosystem services and is considered as one of the major sources of livelihood for the local people. In recent years, forest cover in developing countries has been declining due to expansion of agricultural land and increasing human demand for forest products. The declining of forest cover significantly reduces forest ecosystem services, impacting environmental health and community well-being. Although many studies have shown declining of forest cover, the impact of declining forest cover on ecosystem services is not getting much attention in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of forest cover change on ecosystem service values in the Wof-Washa forest over the past 47 years. This study combined geospatial techniques and socioeconomic survey methods to assess the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the value of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services were estimated using the benefit transfer method and socioeconomic assessment. A total of 184 households were surveyed with structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The results revealed that the provisioning services increased, while the regulating, supportive, and cultural services decreased. We find that about US$ 2 million were reduced due to LULC change, especially due to forest cover change. As forest cover decreased, the monetary value of ecosystem services and their benefits to local people declined significantly. The results reveal that deforestation is a major challenge that can reduce the value of ecosystem services. The results of this study are vital for developing effective forest conservation strategies before irreversible damage to ecosystem services.

Priority areas and benefits of ecosystem restoration in Beijing

Ecological restoration can significantly improve ecosystem services and human well-being and provide a basis for regional coordinated development and ecological security. To guide restoration efforts, information on the potential benefits of restoration was required to efficiently target investments. Although the number of studies focusing on ecosystem restoration has increased in recent decades, priority areas that integrate ecological and economic benefits have yet to be identified. We developed and applied a prioritization approach to identify potential priority sites in Beijing. We used the historical environmental data on Beijing to identify areas of degradation and to assess the feasibility of restoration. Ecosystem service and quality degradation, low ecosystem quality, and soil erosion were integrated into one index to indicate the restoration importance. Potential restoration benefits were mapped using the monetary value of six ecosystem services. Based on the importance and benefits of restoration, three scenarios were developed to identify priority restoration areas. In Beijing, restoring 30% of the degraded area (1531 km2) in priority areas by 2050 could increase the annual ecological benefit by more than 5 billion yuan, or approximately 787 million USD, and could decrease the ecological degradation index by 50%. By integrating explicit spatial information on restoration importance and restoration benefits, this methodology provides a feasible way to identify restoration priority areas and assess restoration benefits.

Navigating nature's toll: Assessing the ecological impact of the refugee crisis in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state has resulted in a significant influx of refugees into Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. However, the ecological impact of this migration has received limited attention in research. This study aimed to address this gap by utilizing remote sensing data and machine learning techniques to model the ecological quality (EQ) of the region before and after the refugee influx. To quantify changes in land use and land cover (LULC), three supervised machine learning classification methods, namely artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and random forests (RF), were applied. The most accurate LULC maps obtained from these methods were then used to assess changes in ecosystem service valuation and function resulting from the land use changes. Furthermore, fuzzy logic models were employed to examine the EQ conditions before and after the Rohingya influx. The findings of the study indicate that the increased number of Rohingya refugees has led to a 9.58% decrease in forest area, accompanied by an 8.25% increase in settlement areas. The estimated total ecosystem services value (ESV) in the research area was $67.83 million in 2017 and $67.78 million in 2021, respectively. The ESV for forests experienced a significant decline of 21.97%, equivalent to a decrease of $5.33 million. Additionally, the reduction in forest lands has contributed to a 13.58% decline in raw materials and a 14.57% decline in biodiversity. Furthermore, utilizing a Markovian transition probability model, our analysis reveals that the EQ conditions in the area have deteriorated from "very good" or "good" to "bad" or "very bad" following the Rohingya influx. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of integrating ecological considerations into decision-making processes and developing proactive measures to mitigate the environmental impact of such large-scale migrations.

How geographical factors and decision-makers' perceptions influence the prioritization of ecosystem services: Analysis in the Spanish rice field areas in RAMSAR Mediterranean wetlands

Mediterranean wetlands provide many ecosystem services to humans and other organisms. However, these services are being increasingly damaged. The prioritization of ecosystem services is essential to start a decision-making process focused on environmental policies, highlighting the necessity of equilibrium between sustainability and human well-being. This study analyzes the similarities and differences among the ecosystem services provided by the Spanish RAMSAR Mediterranean wetlands, where rice production is the main economic activity. These areas are the Ebro Delta, the Albufera Natural Park and the Guadalquivir Marshes (Doñana Biosphere Reserve). Despite being different areas, environmental and agricultural policies sometimes treat their characteristics without distinction since they are conceptually englobed in the same category. This analysis aims to study whether geographical and sociocultural factors could influence the prioritization of ecosystem services. The prioritization of the three study areas was conducted using the Analytic Network Process (ANP), a multi-criteria decision-making method which allows decision-makers to manage the ecosystem's complexity. The results are helpful for future policies and in understanding the complex network of interconnections among ecosystem services. Additionally, results show that there are statistically significant differences in priorities among the three study areas due to geographical and cultural reasons. Moreover, results have also shown that decision-makers' judgements influenced the priorities depending on their background and personal or professional preferences. It emphasizes the necessity of implementing environmental policies from a theoretical and global scale to a participatory and local one, considering a broader range of stakeholders' perceptions to reflect the complexity of the ecosystem services network.

Changes in the economic value of ecosystem services in rapidly growing urban areas: the case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Assessing the effects of land use patterns on ecosystem services can provide a conceptual foundation and point of reference for spatial planning strategies. The benefits ecosystems bring to individuals' lives and general well-being are referred to as ecosystem services. Land use/land cover (LULC) could influence various ecosystems and have implications for natural habitats and the quality of life. LULC has changed dramatically in Bangladesh during the past few decades, notably in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area. However, no attempt has been made to examine the co-evolution of LULC variations and values of ecosystem services (ESV) in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area. The study's objective is to evaluate the impact of LULC changes and different socio-demographic factors on ESV. LULC data sets were extracted from Landsat OLI and TIRS images using maximum likelihood classification. Analyses were conducted on both ESV estimations and driving forces, and the influence of LULC dynamics on the ESV was assessed. Data from 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021 were used to estimate ESVs. LULC in the major metropolitan area of Dhaka has seen considerable changes between 1991 and 2021, with the most important change being the declination of water bodies, vegetation, and agricultural land. Vegetation and agricultural land proportions dropped from 22.50% and 19.29%, respectively, to 6.45% and 10.60%. Overall, there was a US$25.11M drop in ESV during 1991-2021. The study emphasizes the value of integrated land use planning for tightly regulating and controlling the growth of built-up regions. This will be essential for maintaining ecological sustainability and contributing to ecosystem resilience.

Impact of land use land cover changes on ecosystem service values in the Dire and Legedadi watersheds, central highlands of Ethiopia: Implication for landscape management decision making

Land use land cover change in a landscape is the main driver of degradation in ecosystem goods and services. This study was aimed at analysing the dynamics of the LULC change in the catchments of the water supply reservoirs as well as the impact on the Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs) between 1985 and 2022. The benefit transfer method was used to evaluate ecosystem service value (ESV) changes in response to LULC. The watersheds experienced substantial LULC changes. As a result, the natural vegetation, grasslands, and eucalyptus plantations declined dramatically, while settlements and cultivated lands considerably increased. The global and local ESV estimates show a dramatic decline in ESVs between 1985 and 2022. According to global and local ESV estimates, total ESV in the Legedadi watershed has decreased from approximately US$ 65.8 million in 1985 to approximately US$ 11.9 million in 2022 and from approximately US$ 42.7 million in 1985 to approximately US$ 9.66 million in 2022. According to global and local ESV estimates, total ESV in the Dire watershed decreased from approximately US$ 437 thousand in 1985 to approximately US$ 59 thousand in 2022 and from approximately US$ 225 thousand in 1985 to approximately US$ 36 thousand in 2022. The overall decline in ESV demonstrates that the natural environment is deteriorating as a result of replacement of the natural land cover by other economic land uses. Hence, it is highly recommended that implementing sustainable watershed management practices to halt the dramatic loss of natural ecosystems must be a high priority.

Evaluation and prediction of land use change impacts on ecosystem service values in Nanjing City from 1995 to 2030

Land use changes have a considerable impact on ecosystem services (ESs). In recent years, land use changes caused by urban expansion in Nanjing City have been obvious and are expected to further change in the future. Therefore, it is urgent to quantitatively assess ecosystem service value (ESV) changes caused by previous land use changes and future potential changes in Nanjing. In this study, land use data products based on remote sensing images, Dyna-CLUE model, and the ESV equivalent coefficient method were applied to assess the impact of land use changes on ESVs in Nanjing City over the past 23 years (1995-2018), and to forecast the changes of ESV in 2030. The results indicated that the total ESVs of Nanjing City displayed a trend of first increasing and then declining in 1995-2018. From the land use classification, the water area had the largest ESV in Nanjing, followed by arable land. Additionally, the regulating service value was the highest among the four primary ESs in Nanjing from 1995 to 2030, with the highest value of 13.73 billion yuan in 2015. Among the three forecast scenarios, the ecological protection scenario had the highest total ESV and was followed by the urban expansion and business as usual scenarios. These findings may assist for the scientific decision-making of sustainable land use and ecosystem management in Nanjing City.

Land use/land cover dynamics driven changes in woody species diversity and ecosystem services value in tropical rainforest frontier: A 20-year history

Land use/land cover (LULC) change is a prominent problem in tropical forests. However, the fundamental question of how much woody species diversity was lost and ecosystem services value (ESV) changed in response to LULC conversion has rarely been studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of LULC change on woody species diversity and ecosystem service value in the last two decades in the tropical rainforest frontier taking the case of Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve (SFBR), Southwest Ethiopia. Supervised image classification with a maximum likelihood approach was employed and 90 quadrants were laid for the woody species inventory. Diversity indices and descriptive statistics were computed and the non-parametric test (Kruskal-Wallis) was used to test the effect of LULC change on woody species diversity. The benefit transfer method was used to estimate the monetary value of ecosystem services adopting coefficients from empirical studies. The woody species richness, diversity, and evenness varied (X2 = 71.887, p < 0.05) across LULC types. The highest diversity was observed in the forest followed by cropland, coffee plantation, homegarden, and tea plantation. The estimated total ecosystem service value (ESV) was reduced by 21.56% from 309.11 million US$ in 1999 to 242.47 million US$ in 2020. Transition to mono-crop like tea plantations to maximize income not only altered native woody species but also induced the expansion of exotic species and reduced ESV, indicating a detrimental impact of LULC change on ecosystem integrity and stability in the future. Although LULC conversion destruct woody species diversity, cropland, coffee plantation and the homegardens were the refuge for some endemic and conservation priority species. Further, addressing contemporary challenges of LULC conversion through introducing mechanisms such as payment for ecosystem services that increase the economic and livelihood benefits of natural forests to local communities is important. Effective conservation and sustainable use approaches in which such species are systematically integrated into land use practices have to be planned and implemented. This could contribute to strengthening the conservation effectiveness of the SFBR of UNESCO and serve as a showcase for such conservation areas around the globe. The LULC challenges, particularly those emanating from local livelihood needs, could impede our efforts to conserve biodiversity, jeopardize the reliability of future projections, and have an impact on the conservation of threatened ecosystems, if it is not adequately addressed in time.

Impact of land use and land cover on urban ecosystem service value in Chandigarh, India: a GIS-based analysis

Assessing the effects of land use and land cover (LULC) on ecosystem service values (ESVs) is critical for public understanding and policymaking. This study evaluated the impacts of LULC dynamics on ESVs in Chandigarh city of India. The assessment of LULC changes was performed by analyzing the satellite imagery of the study area for the years 1990 and 2020 with different band combinations in ArcGIS (10.8 version software). In addition, we analyzed ecosystem services changes which were based on the LULC classes of the study area. Five LULC classes were identified in the present study area (Water bodies, forest and vegetation, built-up, agriculture and shrubland and open spaces). The results demonstrated (from 1990 to 2020) that the forest cover and agricultural areas decreased by 4.19% and 37.01%, respectively, whereas the built-up area substantially increased by 104.61%. Overall, ESV decreased by 2.54% from 1990 to 2020 due to rapid urbanization. The combination of LULC and ecosystem services valuation can increase our understanding of different issues of an urban ecosystem. Hence, we recommend the integration of LULC and ecosystem services valuation as a tool that could provide information to policymakers, urban planners and land managers for sustainable use in future.

The impact of land use and land cover changes on the landscape pattern and ecosystem service value in Sanjiangyuan region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Decades of intensifying human activities have caused dramatic changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in the ecologically fragile areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which have led to significant changes in ecosystem service value (ESV). Taking the ecologically fragile Sanjiangyuan region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the research object, we focused on understanding the impact of LULC changes on the Sanjiangyuan's landscape pattern and its corresponding ESV, which was combined with a Markov-Plus model to predict LULC changes in 2030. The results showed: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the LULC of Sanjiangyuan has changed to varying degrees, respectively. In the central and southern regions where animal husbandry is the mainstay activity, the area of grass land converted to bareland had expanded; (2) from 2000 to 2010, the total regional ESV increased sharply. However, the total amount of ESV decreased from 2010 to 2020; (3) the overall ESV in the study area was observed to be trending down and is expected to decrease by approximately 4.25 billion CNY by 2030; (4) the fragmentation and complexity of regional landscape patterns will negatively affect local ecosystem stability and biodiversity. Overall, there is a strong temporal and spatial correlation between LULC and ESV. This study will provide a reference for the local government to provide targeted and sustainable land management policies, thereby promoting the improvement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau regional ecology value.

Mapping ecosystem services for ecological planning and management: a case from a tropical planning region, Eastern India

Burdwan City experienced an important urbanization trend inducing dramatic land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the past 28 years. However, their effects on ecosystem services value (ESV) remain unknown. The prime objective of this study is to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of ESV in the Burdwan Planning Area (BPA) from 1990 to 2018. Ecosystem service value (ESV) was estimated using the benefits transfer method, and the contribution of LULC was also computed using contribution rate (CR). The dynamics of LULC were also calculated from the change intensity index and single LULC dynamics. The sensitivity of ESVs to LULC using an elasticity indicator between 1990 and 2018 was performed. The results showed that during the entire study period, built-up are and open lands or sand bars increased 362.34% and 42.40%; water bodies, vegetation, and agricultural lands decreased by 33.24%, 7.20%, and 13.66%, respectively, from 1990 to 2018. In case of ESV, total ESVs were US $95.26 (1990), US $95.85 (2000), US $95.42 (2010), and US $91.38 (2018) million. There was a reduction of the total ESV of US $3.88 million between 1990 and 2018. A substantial spatial heterogeneity of ESV between rural and urban landscapes was reported due to variations of ecological landscapes. The main driver of ESs value loss was a rapid conversion of natural land cover (vegetation, water bodies) into semi-natural or artificial landscapes, i.e., urban settlement. Being a planning region, assessing the impact of LULC dynamics on the ESVs is necessary for sustainable urban development and effective urban environmental management.

Urbanization, ecosystem services, and their interactive coercive relationship in Hunan Province, China

Failing to balance developmental considerations of the urbanization level (UL) and ecosystem services (ESs) causes issues such as land degradation and social conflict, presenting significant challenges for regional sustainable development. Although numerous studies reported the relationship between UL and ESs, only a few have explored the coupling coordination relationship between urbanization subsystems and ESs from a multidimensional perspective. This study aimed to measure the spatiotemporal characteristics of UL and ESs in Hunan Province from 2000 to 2018 using statistical data and remote sensing monitoring data regarding land use. The multidimensional coupling coordination relationship between urbanization systems and ESs was analyzed using a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model. The results showed that the UL of Hunan Province increased from 2000 to 2018, was spatially high in the east and low in the west, and extended outward from city centers. The average ecosystem services value (ESV) in Hunan Province showed a decreasing trend with some fluctuation. The average ESV in mountainous areas and lake areas was higher than that in the areas surrounding major urban agglomerations. Although the overall CCD between UL and ESs in Hunan Province increased during the study period and entered the coordination stage, the degree of coupling coordination between urbanization subsystems and ESs varied greatly. Thus, the findings of the present study can support the formulation of policies for ecosystem protection and sustainable urbanization in Hunan Province.

Auctioning approaches for ecosystem services - Evidence and applications

Auctions have attracted growing attention as bidding mechanisms for soliciting or allocating payments for a wide range of ecosystem services (ES). This paper reviews the latest scientific knowledge on ES auctioning approaches. Using systematically selected academic articles, we trace and discuss the development of ES auction literature across space, time, target ecosystem, and mechanism type. We integrate previous attempts to organize this body of work to produce a composite factor map of entry points to more specialized sub-literatures engaging with current issues in auction design and implementation. The results show that most academic work focuses on reverse auctions, where landowners bid their willingness to accept contracts to protect or promote ES provisioning, but we also locate several forward (i.e. beneficiaries bid their willingness to pay for ES) and mixed mechanisms. We critically analyze major advantages and challenges for each approach, emphasizing issues related to transaction costs and accessibility for participants and agencies. Overall, our findings suggest that ES auctions have a robust track record but remain administratively and logistically challenging. Further investment in open-source tools, shared infrastructure, and other efforts to make auctions more accessible to researchers, agencies, and participants alike is strongly indicated.

Integrating Spatial Heterogeneity into an Analysis between Ecosystem Service Value and Its Driving Factors: A Case Study of Dalian, China

Human demand for natural resources has grown, leading to ecological debasement and related ecological system administration. Using Dalian as an example, we estimated the changes in the ecosystem service value (ESV) in 2005 and 2020. We used ArcGIS and spatial statistics to conduct estimations and change analyses of the ESV. Based on the results of the ESV, the geographical detector and geographically weighted regression (GWR) elucidated the contributions of different driving factors of the ESV in a 2 km grid. In summary, these results indicated that: (1) from a holistic perspective, the ESV of Dalian fell by 206.8009 billion CNY over 15 years, and the hot spots were concentrated in both the northern and the western parts, whereas the cold spots were distributed in the central part; (2) according to the results from the geographical detector, land use structure factors influenced the ESV most significantly, followed by socio-economic factors, and the impact of natural factors was relatively small; and (3) according to the results of the GWR, land use structure factors negatively affected the ESV, and the positive impact of the proportion of the natural land area was the most obvious. We conclude that the decline in the ESV reflects the impact of human activities on the ecosystem in the studied landscape. Understanding ESV changes should be made a priority in ecosystem management, and evaluating ESV drivers can contribute to developing land use strategies for policy-making.

Impacts of land use and land cover change on ecosystem service values in the Afroalpine area of Guna Mountain, Northwest Ethiopia

Ecosystem service changes caused by land use and land cover change (LULCC) is an important indictor and early warning of ecological changes. However, few attempts have been made to evaluate the effects of LULCC on ecosystem services in the Afroalpine highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the impacts of LULCC on ecosystem services values in the afro-alpine area of Guna Mountain, Northwestern Ethiopia. Image classification was carried out using Landsat imageries of 1995, 2008, and 2020 following Random Forest algorithm with Google Earth Engine(GEE) based on filtered sample points. A modified benefit transfer method was used to evaluate ecosystem service value (ESV) changes in response to LULCC. The results revealed that the most notable feature of LULCC in the afro-alpine area of Guna Mountain was the expansion of cropland and built-up areas at the expense of grassland, forest, and shrubland. The overall ESV of the study site was estimated at USD 46.97 × 106 in 1995, USD 36.77 × 106 in 2008, and USD 37.19 × 106 in 2020. The net ESVs of the study site declined by USD 9.78 × 106 between 1995 and 2020. The regulating service values accounted for the greatest share, accounting for over 42% in all periods, followed by provisioning and supporting service values, which accounted for over 29% and 13%, respectively, while cultural services accounted for the smallest amount of the total ESV. The ecosystem service value of food production experienced the highest increase. However, the values of the remaining 16 types of ecosystem services declined with varying degrees of reduction over the study periods. The results of this study is necessary for land-use planners and decision-makers who require site-specific information on impacts of LULCC on ecosystem service.

Impacts of urbanization at city cluster scale on ecosystem services along an urban-rural gradient: a case study of Central Yunnan City Cluster, China

Urban agglomeration will be the main mode of future urbanization in China, greatly influencing social and economic development and ecosystem protection at the whole city cluster scale. It is important to analyze the impacts of large-scale, scattered land use and cover change (LUCC) consisting of one-pole-multi-point urbanization in city clusters on regional ecosystem services (ESs), so as to increase ecological security and maintain ES levels. Using the urban-rural gradient analysis method (UGAM), this study examined driver-response mechanisms of large-scale, scattered agglomeration urbanization on ESs along an urban-rural gradient and at a regional scale. This was done by simulating and analyzing tempo-spatial variations in ES characteristics along concentric ring gradients in the Central Yunnan City Cluster (CYCC) under its present urbanization path. The results showed that rapid urban sprawl is the main driver affecting the integral value of ESs in CYCC and that ES trade-offs (through LUCC caused by urbanization) between adjacent zones along the urban-rural gradient will particularly exacerbate the degradation of integral ES levels. Hence, CYCC should follow a sustainable, eco-friendly urbanization path and consider ecological principles and the impact of LUCC on regional ESs along the urban-rural gradient in top-level design and decision-making on urban planning and strategic land use management. Differentiated regional development policies should be formulated for each area, the urban-rural development pattern and layout optimized, the scale of construction land rationally controlled, and the overall efficiency of land use improved. Ecological buffers should be set up around areas with sharp and obvious changes in land use, to alleviate the negative impact of large-scale, decentralized city cluster urbanization on regional ESs.

Comparison of ecosystem services provided by an urban and a riverine wetland: a multi-scale evaluation from lower Gangetic plain, Eastern India

Wetland ecosystems (WE) are considered the most productive ecosystems on the globe which provide a range of basic and critical ecosystem services (ES) to humans. However, WE are constantly being degraded because of a poor understanding of social benefits at a local level and the lack of recognition of economic values for ES at sub-national and national levels. This study aims to compare a peri-urban wetland with a riverine wetland from lower Gangetic plain, Eastern India, to identify the bundle of ES based on its perceived importance from multiple perspectives at a local level. Participatory research tools have been employed (i.e., key informant interviews, household survey, and field observation) for data collection. Based on rapid assessment of wetland ecosystem services (RAWES) approach, a priority ranking analysis was used to examine ES. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to find out significant differences in RAWES approach between riverine and peri-urban wetlands. Multiple regression model (MRM) was also performed to explore the impact of socio-demographic factors towards the perception of WES. Results showed that (i) the utilizations of WES largely vary between riverine and peri-urban wetland; (ii) provisioning and regulating ES were attributed relatively higher importance by the people of riverine and peri-urban wetlands in comparison to other ES; (iii) as per RAWES approach, the ESI value for riverine wetland was higher (0.58) than the peri-urban wetland (0.44) indicating the higher importance and dependence on WES; and (iv) population growth, expansion of settlement, climate change, and agricultural expansion were attributed as significant drivers of WE change (particularly for urban wetland). This study suggests the much-needed policy interventions and future pathways of research for developing effective measures to ensure livelihood sustainability of the dependent communities and to sustain (active) the ecosystem health of riverine and peri-urban wetlands.

Spatiotemporal change in the land use and ecosystem service value in the Aral Sea basin (1993-2018)

The Aral Sea started shrinking since the 1960s due to natural factors and human activities; however, the relationship between land cover change and ecosystem services (ES) in the Aral Sea basin has not been fully studied. To analyze and explore the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of ecosystem service values (ESVs) in this region, we used the European Space Agency CCI Global Land Cover product with a spatiotemporal resolution of 300 × 300 m and the annual scale. The land use data of 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018 in the study area were extracted; the study area's ESV in the corresponding years was calculated; and the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics were analyzed. Additionally, the change rate and sensitivity were analyzed. The results revealed that the area of urban land, bare land, grassland, wetland, and cropland in the Aral Sea basin increased from 1993 to 2018; water body and forestland decreased. The integrated value of water bodies, cropland, and grassland ES accounted for more than 93.43% of the total ESV; the change rate of land use types differed. Urban land and water changed the fastest; cultivated land, woodland, grassland, and wetland changed the slowest. From 1993 to 2018, the total ESV of the Aral Sea basin decreased from 476.44 to 437.09 billion (overall decrease = -8.26%). The ESV study shows that the water area decreased sharply from 1993 to 2018, resulting in a loss of USD 46.84 billion. Biodiversity, food production, and water regulation were the main ES, accounting for 74.59% of the total ESV. The ESV of the Aral Sea basin declined from 1993 to 2018, and significant differences were observed among its regions. The sensitivity indexes of each period are far less than 1, indicating that the total estimated ecosystem values are inelastic with respect to the ecosystem value coefficients. Some regions should thus focus on this aspect. A close correlation was observed between the ESV and land use. Hence, effective land use policies can control the expansion of cropland; protect water bodies, ecological environments, grassland, and forestland; and promote a more sustainable ecosystem.

Integrating ecosystem services and landscape connectivity into the optimization of ecological security pattern: a case study of the Pearl River Delta, China

The ecological security pattern (ESP) focuses on key ecological elements in ecosystems by identifying, combining, and evaluating these elements. This study attempts to identify the ESP of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and provide suggestions for optimization. Ecosystem services were calculated and applied to construct the ecological resistance surface; morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity analysis were used to identify ecological sources; and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model was applied to extract ecological corridors and ecological nodes. The results show that during 1995 to 2015, the main landscape transformation occurred between forest, cropland, and urban land, and the location of the transformation was mainly in the central part of the study area. Regarding the ESP, the average resistance value increased from 0.30 to 0.33; the area of ecological sources decreased by 5.12%; the ratio of total cumulative resistance to the length of the corridors increased by 14.82%; and the number of ecological nodes increased from 71 to 99. For the ESP optimization, based on the correction of the resistance surface, 1348 km blue corridors and 61 blue nodes were extracted. Based on hot spot analysis, nine stepping stones were identified. This optimization compensates for the lack of ecological elements in the center of the study area, enhances weaker corridors, and improves the connectivity of the ESP, thus making the ESP more stable and complete. The ESP constructed and optimized in this paper holds great significance and serves as a valuable reference for ecological protection and environmental management.

The driving forces of wetland degradation in Bure and Wonberma Woredas, Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

Although the land use/land cover (LULC) of inland wetlands has been dynamic over the last 100 years, the extent of their LULC dynamics and its driving forces are poorly understood particularly in Ethiopia. Thus, this study analyzed spatiotemporal dynamics of four (Alefa, Chakun, Denbun, Kotilan) wetlands LULC and its driving forces in the Bure and Wonmbera Woredas, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia for the period from 1985 to 2020. The Landsat images downloaded from Google Earth Engine were used to analyze the LULC of four wetland watersheds. These images were classified into 7 classes by using the maximum likelihood algorithm in ArcGIS 4. Besides, a survey of 347 households, 4 focus group discussions, and 12 key informant interviews and transect walks were used to generate the data on the drivers of wetland changes. The LULC analysis showed that the four wetlands area in 1985, 2002, and 2020 occupied 6027 ha, 5203 ha, and 4348 ha, respectively, which indicated that the areas of wetlands have declined by 1679 ha or 27.9% in the past 35 years, with an average annual decrease rate of 48.4 hectares. Wetlands were lost at a higher rate (16.4%) from 2002 to 2020. The cultivated land expansion has taken a substantial share (67.9%) of wetlands' decline. The expansion of cultivated land due to an increase of rural households along with a lack of alternative livelihoods resulted in the conversion of wetlands to cultivated land. Gully erosion and sediment deposits due to wetlands buffer degradation, overgrazing, and change in crop production driven by market opportunities have exacerbated the wetlands loss. Thus, interventions such as the promotion of alternative livelihood activities, stall livestock feeding or zero-grazing, and non-conventional livestock feeds are needed to curb wetland degradation. Delineation of buffer zone and protection of shrubland or woodlands found in buffer areas of the wetlands are needed as well for the sustainability of wetlands.

Dynamics of land use/land cover: implications on environmental resources and human livelihoods in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia

Quantifying the recent LULC changes and associated impacts on pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems is important since the effects of LULC changes on environmental resources and human livelihood are not fully understood in our study area. This paper analysed the trend of land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics and its implications on natural resources and human livelihood in the Middle Awash Valley, Central Ethiopian Rift Valley. For the purpose, Landsat imageries of thematic mapper (1987), enhanced thematic mapper (2002) and operational land imager and thermal infrared sensor (2016) were employed and analysed using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) software and techniques, and qualitative data analysis had been performed as well. The results showed that cultivated land expanded at a rate of 2.6% year^-1, whereas forestland and grassland shrunk at a rate of 1.2% year^-1 and 2.4% year^-1, respectively. The invasive Prosopis juliflora has been expanded from 3.7% in 1987 to 37.9% in 2016 at a rate of 1.2% year^-1. The introduction of both small- and large-scale commercial irrigation farming and the implementation of villagization programme focused on transforming pastoralists into sedentary lifestyles. Consequently, irrigation farming, launching of villagization, climate variability as in series of droughts, construction of water dam and the rapid expansion of Prosopis juliflora were the major drivers of LULC changes in the study area. Although we found some positive developments such as improvement on infrastructural and social services (e.g. school and domestic water supply), income diversification and ecological benefits from Prosopis juliflora (e.g. saline soil treatment, carbon sequestration and soil erosion control), there were a range of negative impacts resulting from LULC changes in the study area. LULC changes reduced quality of rangeland resources as the ecologically and economically valuable indigenous tree and grass varieties were significantly degraded. As a result, the traditional pastoral livelihood system has been much vulnerable with the LULC dynamism of the study area. Furthermore, the implementation of the villagization programme has brought socioeconomic impacts on the community and challenges on the ecology, e.g. changing productive rangeland to irrigation crop farms. Our research results, thus, suggest the urgent need for relevant policy interventions in support of the pastoral livelihoods and landscapes with the modification in the implementation of villagization as well as irrigation farming programmes and its better management and controlling Prosopis juliflora expansion in the study area.

Assessing Changes in the Ecosystem Services Value in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Shanghai from 2000 to 2020

Land resources are foundational for human survival and development. In contrast, land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics drive considerable changes in ecosystem services. Recently, China witnessed a new stage of rapid urbanization. Therefore, investigating the relationships between ecosystem services value (ESV) and LULC in these areas is highly relevant. Based on the data of land use and socioeconomic development in Shanghai from 2000 to 2020, we adopted a land use/land cover dynamics analysis method and established the ESV per unit area at the city scale, discussed the impact of LULC on ESV spatially and quantitatively, and tested the research process based on the sensitivity analysis of the ESV coefficient. The results show that from 2000 to 2020, the LULC pattern in Shanghai rapidly changed. In particular, the area of cultivated land has shrunk by 123.96 thousand hm², while the construction land has expanded by 141.26 thousand hm², which has led to a decline in ESV of the entire city (especially regarding hydrological adjustment and biodiversity). Nevertheless, although the area of trench and lakes only occupies 1.67-3.16% of the total area of land, its ecological value accounts for an astonishing 23.80-50.70% of the total ESV. At the district level, the primary decline in eco-system services value was noted in the Chongming District in the north and Pudong New Area in the east of Shanghai. However, due to the overall planning of the city and the advantages of its resource endowment, Qingpu District and its surrounding areas in western Shanghai have witnessed improvements in terms of the values of hydrological adjustment, water supply, and environmental purification. This study presents a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of issues regarding ESV in rapidly urbanized areas, thereby providing an important reference for decision-makers regarding the rational layout of cities, sustainable use of land, and management of natural ecosystems.

How Urban Fringe Expansion Affects Green Habitat Diversity? Analysis from Urban and Local Scale in Hilly City

Hilly cities in China have gone through an extensive expansion, and urban fringe morphology has experienced a massive change. As a result, green habitats have been occupied or disturbed, and such landscape changes can impact biodiversity. Understanding how urbanization impacts green habitats is essential for urban sustainable development. However, such understanding is lacking for hilly city. This study has two objectives: (1) to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of green habitats in hilly city fringe during 2000-2020; (2) to identify the differentiated impacts of different hilly city expansion shapes on green habitat. By using landscape indexes to characterize green habitat patterns, the green habitats impact analysis was processed in two scales, at urban scale and local scale. Information Entropy Model and Classification and Green Habitat Quality Evaluation were used to reveal the relationships of urban expansion shapes and green habitat quality in mountainous city. The results showed that, at urban scale, (1) the more complex the city fringe morphology is, the more negative impacts there are on green habitats, (2) and when Guiyang urban fringe green space declined, the green habitats type pattern was refactored. At the local scale, we classified urban fringe expansion into four shape styles; we then discussed the changes of green habitats from the perspective of shape style and stage of urbanization. The results showed that, (1) dispersed type and strip type of urban fringe expansion led to the largest green habitat lost, besides, spreading type and strip type resulted in the largest loss of green habitats core areas. (2) Moreover, at a different stage of urban fringe expansion, the challenge of green habitats persistence was varied, the legacy type has been eager for special species habitats. However, the new type has been facing the risks of guaranteeing habitats stock and quality.

Land use and land cover dynamics and ecosystem services values in Kewet district in the central dry lowlands of Ethiopia

A better comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the tempo-spatial dynamics of land use and cover (LULC) in the dry lowlands areas of Ethiopia is crucial for restoring degraded landscapes. This study aimed at analyzing the trends of LULC changes and determine their ecosystem service values in Kewet district central dry lowlands of Ethiopia using multi-temporal satellite imagery for three periods: 1995, 2008, and 2017. Supervised classification, using the maximum likelihood classifier, was applied to quantify LULC changes. Ecosystem Service values were estimated using the modified ecosystem service value coefficients. LULC analysis showed that cultivated land was the most predominant which covered over 41% of the study area in all three periods. Forests showed a net increase of 18.2%. Shrubland occupied the second largest portion in all LULC analysis next to cultivated land, and it showed a net decrease of 29.2%. Open grassland showed a periodic increase. Over the past 20 years, built-up area and bared land grew continuously by 1.80 and 1.01 km² yr^-1, respectively. However, some degraded land was converted into woody vegetation land through area exclosure, which improved the vegetation coverage of the study area. Ecosystem Service values ranged from US$ 2.37 million for shrubland in 1995 to US$ 22.49 million for forest land in 2008. The total ESVs of the district also continuously decreased over the past two decades. Generally, the LULC in the Kewet district has been dynamic in that some of the LULC classes were expanding, while the others were shrinking through time.

Impact of Accessibility to Cities at Multiple Administrative Levels on Soil Conservation: A Case Study of Hunan Province

The development of traffic infrastructure involves massive land use changes along the transportation routes and stimulates urban sprawl at transfer nodes, leading to a degradation in ecosystem services, including soil conservation. For developing countries, especially for China, it is very important to differentiate the influences between different standards of traffic infrastructure associated with the different administrative levels of the regions where they are constructed on soil conservation. In this study, we attempt to analyze the differences in the influence of accessibility at different levels on soil conservation, for the case study area in Hunan province in China. The results indicate that: (1) traffic conditions in Hunan province have witnessed continuous improvement, and the time taken to access mega-cities, prefecture-level cities, and county-level cities from various regions has been significantly reduced. (2) The total annual soil conservation in Hunan province is maintained at approximately 2.93 × 109 t. However, the spatial heterogeneity shows severe degradation in regions with lower accessibility, and weak enhancement in regions with higher accessibility. (3) A negative spatial autocorrelationship exists between accessibility and soil conservation at all levels, with the increase of administrative rank of the destination making it more obvious and intense, along with an increased tendency for the spatial distribution to concentrate. (4) Building more railways and highways from prefecture-level cities with LH clusters nearby as transfer nodes, instead of the construction of national roads and provincial roads that diverge from these railways and highways, will help limit the massive expansion of construction land and soil erosion within prefecture-level cities, rather than spreading to towns of LH clusters. This research provides an important scientific basis for future regional planning and traffic infrastructure construction, and also a reference for traffic infrastructure development in other geographically similar regions on a synchronous development stage in the world.

Multi-Scenario Simulation of Ecosystem Service Values in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration, China

Rapid urbanization and human activities enhanced threats to the degradation of various ecosystem services in modern urban agglomerations. This study explored the response of ecosystem service values (ESVs) to land use changes and the trade-offs among various ESVs in urban agglomerations under different future development scenarios. The patch-general land use simulation (PLUS) model and ESV calculation method were used to simulate the ESVs of Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration under the Business As Usual scenario (BAU), Ecological Conservation scenario (EC), and Economic Development scenario (ED) in 2030. Global and local Moran’s I were used to detect the spatial distribution pattern, and correlation analysis was used to measure trade-offs among ecosystem services. The results showed that: (1) The simulated result of land use in Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration showed high accuracy compared to the actual observed result of the same period, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.912. From 2000 to 2030, land use changes were significant, with the rapid decrease in farmland and an increase in construction land. The area of woodland increased significantly under the EC scenario, and the area of construction land increased rapidly under the ED scenario. (2) The decline of total ESV was CNY 218 million from 2000 to 2020, and ESVs remained the downward trend in the BAU and ED scenarios compared to 2020, decreasing by CNY 156 million and CNY 4731 million, respectively. An increasing trend of ESV showed under the EC scenario, with a growth of CNY 849 million. (3) Significant spatial autocorrelation showed in Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration, as the Global Moran’s I were all positive and the p-values were zero. The ESV grids mainly showed “High-High” clusters in the mountainous areas and “Low-Low” clusters in plain areas. Except for food production, a majority of ecosystem services exhibited positive synergistic relationships. In future planning and development, policymakers should focus on the coordinated development of the urbanization process and ecological preservation to build an ecological safety pattern.