Dynamic Analysis of the Restoration Ecological Economic Value for Vegetation Restoration in Xiaoliang, Tropical China

Abstract

This paper draws attention to the changing status of studies on the restoration ecological economic value with regard to vegetation restoration. It presents an attempt to calculate the dynamic economic value in the process of vegetation restoration in Xiaoliang, tropical China. The results showed that restoration ecological economic value increased from 509 RMB•hm-2 to 119,070 RMB•hm-2 during the 45 years. With the vegetation restoration went on, the increasing velocity slowed down. In the first 15 years, the velocity was more than 100% and slowed down gradually then after 20 years later. If compared by value construction, the direct economic value increased from 101 RMB•hm-2 to 32,782 RMB•hm-2 during the 45 years, and the indirect economy value increased from 408 RMB•hm-2 to 86288 RMB•hm-2. From the perspective of the value amount of each service function in the restoration process of the degraded ecosystem, the value amount was ordered as O2 relief > Carbon sequestration > Soil conservation > Climate regulation > Water conservation. And also, the tendency of each value was different, soil conservation service function and the climate regulation were the most remarkable here, after restored for 20 years, the soil conservation remained stable, the soil conservation economy value presented the same tendency, while the value of climate regulation fluctuated after 15 years’ restoration. The results suggest that the restoration ecological economic value was a time-dependent, dynamic accumulation consistent with the ecological effect of the restored forest. In addition, the restoration ecological economic value at different ages in a restored forest ecosystem was consistent with the values found for some regional natural forest ecosystems. These results may be of importance for ecological restoration and forest management in tropical and subtropical regions.