Quantifying landscape pattern and ecosystem service value changes: A case study at the county level in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract

Implementation of ecological restoration projects in the Chinese Loess Plateau has improved the ecological environment significantly, and altered the structure of rural land use dramatically. Therefore, it is critical to characterize and quantify the changes in landscape patterns and ecosystem service value (ESV), especially at the county level, to provide sustainable land-use plans to local policymakers. This study mapped land use for 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015 by using remote sensing imagery of Yongshou County, a typical hilly-gully region in Loess Plateau, and quantified the changes in landscape patterns by using spatial metrics. It employed the benefit transfer method to estimate changes in ESV. The results showed the following: (1) Grassland, forestland and cropland were the main land-use types, with the most increased area in forestland and grassland. (2) The landscape pattern was becoming more fragmented, and connectivity and accessibility decreased. (3) The total ESV increased by 3.5 million RMB, mainly because of increased ESV in grassland; meanwhile, synergies existed among regulation and support services, and trade-offs existed among supply services and regulation. (4) The changes in land-use types and landscape patterns had significant positive effects on the ESV. These results on ESV change with land-use support scientific decision-making services for the formulation of land-use planning and landscape structure adjustment plans at the county level to ensure sustainable management of ecosystems.