Ecosystem service value assessment of coastal area in Lianyungang City using LANDSAT images

Abstract

This study aims at discovering changes of ecosystem service value based on spatial-temporal variety of land use features on the coastal area in Lianyungang City from 1978 to 2000. Three LANDSAT images (1978 MSS, 1987 TM and 2000 ETM) were used to estimate changes in the size of six land-use categories (forest, cropland, urban, wetland, lakes/rivers and coastal water). Coefficients which integrated from Costanza et al.'s (1997) ecosystem services valuation model and Xie Gaodi et al.'s (2003) "ecosystem services value unit area of Chinese terrestrial ecosystems" were used to estimate changes in ecosystem services delivered by each land categories, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the affecting factors of ecosystem service value. The total annual ecosystem service values in coastal area of Lianyungang City decreased from RMB 8.23×10^9 in 1978 to RMB 7.53×10^9 in 1987, however it increased from RMB 7.53×10^9 in 1987 to RMB 10.73×10^9 in 2000. The decline of ecosystem service value from 1978 to 1987 is largely attributable to 53.49% loss of forest at the same period, while the increase of service value is contributed by 147.70% increase of wetland from 1987 to 2000. Change of wetland and forest has the major contribution to the change of total ecosystem service value of Liangyungang city. Waste treatment, water supply and climate regulation are the dominant ecosystem services of this area. Forest and wetland should be strictly conserved in further urban development.