Assessment of human consumption of ecosystem services in China from 2000 to 2014 based on an ecosystem service footprint model

Abstract

Ecosystem services are essential for the well-being of humans, and the measurement of ecosystem service provision and consumption is an effective approach for estimating regional sustainability. In this work, an ecosystem service footprint (ESF) model was presented to calculate ecosystem service consumption in China from 2000 to 2014. Seven service footprints were estimated in this model, namely, food provision, raw material provision, freshwater provision, energy (hydropower) provision, air purification, climate regulation, and tourism and leisure. Results showed that from 2000 to 2014, the average annual ESF was 2.78 ha per capita, and the provisioning, regulation, and cultural service footprints were 1.56, 1.20, and 0.02 ha per capita, respectively. ESF exhibited an increasing trend during this period. National ecosystem services presented a slight upward deficit, with the eastern region having the highest deficit and a slight surplus in the western region. Each provincial-level administrative region can be classified into one of four categories based on two dimensions, gross domestic product (GDP) and their ecosystem service surplus (ESS) or deficit (ESD) situation. High GDP values and ESD situation provinces are mainly located in coastal areas, whereas low-GDP and ESS situation provinces are located in the northwest and southwest regions. The model is expected to provide scientific basis and direction for optimizing environmental management.