Land use change in farming-pastoral ecotone and its effects on ecosystem services value: A case study in West Jilin, China

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study analyzed the effects of land use change in West Jilin on ecosystem services value (ESV) in a long time scales (1976–2013) based on Pay Index. The results showed that the main characteristic of land use change in study area was area reduction in grassland and marsh, and area increase in arable land and alkali-land. However, land use change in Period 1 (1976–2000) got a faster rate than in Period 2 (2000–2013). The ESV in West Jilin mostly contributed by marsh, farmland, water, and grassland. The total value of ecosystem services increased from 21.65 billion yuan to 64.28 billion yuan during 1976–2013. Based on the Pay Index in 2013, ESV had an average annual reduction of 170.4 million yuan in Period 1, mainly caused by the conversion of marsh and woodland to other land use types. ESV in West Jilin lost about 115.02 million yuan per year in Period 2; the most important reason was that marsh converted to other types of land use. From the point of view of ecological service type, value of supporting service, regulating service, and cultural service was sustained or reduced both in Period 1 and in Period 2. However, the change of provisioning service value showed a slight upward trend during 1976–2013. Overall, land use change in West Jilin in recent 37 years lead to a continuous reduction in regional ESV, especially in Period 1.