Assessing changes in soil conservation ecosystem services and causal factors in the Three Gorges Reservoir region of China

Abstract

Ecosystem services provide the basis for humankind to survive and develop. Similarly, soil conservation services play an important role in maintaining regional ecological protection and sustainable development. Concerned with both the capacity of soil conservation and the strengthening soil conservation efforts, soil conservation services greatly contribute to enhancing ecosystem management and wellbeing. It is based on a suite of ecosystem service models, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem services and Trade-offs, which evaluates ecosystem services and weigh gains and losses. Accordingly, this study analyzes spatial characteristics of soil conservation functions for ecosystems in China's Three Gorges Reservoir region and discusses factors that influence them. Results show that increases in the value of soil conservation services was in the northeastern part of the study area, in counties stretching from Yunyang to Zigui. These areas accounted for 83.4% of the total area where there was an increase in soil conservation services. An important predictor of soil conservation services is slope, which explained 63% of the variability in soil conservation services. The soil conservation function of ecosystems is crucial in maintaining the ecological balance in the Three Gorges Reservoir region and plays an important role in protecting the area by preventing land deterioration and river sedimentation. Findings from this study show that analysis from the standpoint of the relationship between soil conservation processes and ecological services of spatial structure is recommended. The aim of this study was to provide new understanding of the practice of soil conservation as well as offer innovation in research methods of soil conservation.