Characteristics of spatial and temporal changes in ecosystem service value and threshold effect in Henan along the Yellow River, China

Abstract

Ecosystem services (ES), which serve as the link between human activities and natural ecosystems, are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting economic development. The Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) is an indicator used to quantifying ecosystem services. Accurately estimating the dynamics of ESV and the threshold effects of influencing factors is of great importance for the sustainable development of the region. This study constructs an ESV valuation model based on the equivalent factor method, incorporating construction land, and corrects the initial valuation results in three dimensions. By constructing a random forest model and integrating partial dependence analysis, Elevation, Evapotranspiration, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and the proportion of built-up land area were identified as significant factors in determining ecologically vulnerable areas within the study region. The results show that: (1) The total ESV in Henan along the Yellow River in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 was 204.612 billion yuan, 249.775 billion yuan, 239.100 billion yuan, 234.868 billion yuan and 202.767 billion yuan, respectively. The overall trend of change is first growth and then decline, with spatial features remaining relatively stable, and ESV polarization becoming more pronounced. (2) The spatial clustering characteristics of ESV in Henan along the Yellow River are remarkable, and the cold and hot spot areas show a bidirectional expansion trend. The cold spot areas expand substantially around the construction land, whilethe hot spot areas show a small expansion around the western mountain areas and the vegetation areas along the Yellow River, but the overall growth is slower. (3) The main factors affecting ESV include three natural factors and one anthropogenic factor, namely evapotranspiration (ET), the proportion of built-up land area (POB), normalized vegetation index (NDVI) and elevation (ELEV). ESV is at a high level when ELEV>718 m, ET<90 mm, NDVI>0.7, and POB<25.67 % approximately. The study results can provide an important theoretical basis for the development of comprehensive ecological protection measures. Furthermore, they can contribute to the sustainable development of the Yellow River Basin.