Abstract
Grassland restoration projects are currently being implemented to mitigate human disturbance to the natural environment and reduce grassland degradation. China’s Grain-for-Green Programme (GFGP), including one project implemented in Duolun County, China, in 2000, has significantly improved the overall ecological health of this region. Using a modeling approach, this study quantified changes in four ecosystem services (ESs), including Net Primary Production (NPP), soil conservation (SC), water yield (WY), and sandstorm prevention (SP), in Duolun County between 2000 and 2016. We found the total NPP, water yield, and soil conservation increased by 80.44%, 248.2%, and 12.2%, respectively, during this period, while the sandstorm prevention decreased by 55.9%. Unlike other areas of GFGP implementation, the improvement of the ecological environment in Duolun County is largely attributed to the increased of vegetation coverage (88%) instead of land use circulation (12%). We found the grassland is a factor that reduces the trade-off while this effect was related with the grassland coverage. Future policies should be based on the mechanisms of vegetation underlying the ESs change and the relationships of ESs in order to achieve sustainable provision of ESs.
Highlights
Ecosystem products and services, collectively referred to as ecosystem services (ESs), are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystem functions provide for humans [1,2]
We found the Grain-for-Green Programme (GFGP) changed the ESs in Duolun County by changing the land use and increasing the grassland coverage
Our study shows that human activities in the form of grassland restoration play an important role in the improvement of ESs in Duolun County, primarily by improving vegetation cover
Summary
Collectively referred to as ecosystem services (ESs), are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystem functions provide for humans [1,2]. Grassland is the largest terrestrial ecosystem in China, with about 78% concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions. Grasslands influence regional climate and promote biodiversity, ESs, and socio-economic development [3,4]. Grassland degradation has resulted in increased sandstorms, desertification, and the migration of ecological refugees, all of which directly jeopardize animal husbandry, ecological security, and sustainable development in China [8,9]. Grassland restoration projects are currently being implemented to reduce grassland degradation. In this context, the study of ESs and their interactions can reveal the benefits of different ecological policies and can provide scientific support for future ecological restoration projects
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