Abstract
The impact of land use and land cover (LULC) change on ecosystem services value (ESV) varies in different spatial locations. Although many studies have focused on quantifying the effect of LULC change on ESV, few have considered the spatial heterogeneity of the relationship between LULC change and ESV. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between ESV and LULC change from a spatial perspective in Xi’an City. We divide the study area into 10,522 grid cells, based on land cover data from 2000 to 2018, and we identify the spatial-temporal dynamics of LULC change. Next, we employ the Benefits Transfer Method (BTM) to evaluate the ESV, and the ESV is corrected by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model are used to assess the spatial association of LULC change and ESV. The results show that the total ESV loss is 6.57 billion yuan (Chinese yuan), and the loss rate is 12.18%. The distribution of ESV shows an obvious spatial heterogeneity, and the low-value area of ESV expands eastward from the main urban area. More than 50% of total ESV is provided by woodland. From 2000 to 2018, the land use pattern in Xi’an underwent a significant change with the developed land increasing by 64.09%, whereas farmland decreased by 12.49%. Based on the GWR model, the relationship between LULC change and ESV in Xi’an showed a significant negative association and spatial heterogeneity. Our study results provide a new way to effectively identify the relationship between LULC change and ESV, and in turn, to fully understand the ecological trends at the regional scale, laying a foundation for regional sustainable development.
Highlights
The ecosystem services value (ESV) reflects the ability of ecosystems to provide various products and services for human production and life
Our results indicated that woodland had the greatest impact on the ESV of Xi’an City, and the contribution rate of woodland to the total ESV in Xi’an was more than 50% from 2000 to 2018
We analyzed the spatial association between ESV change and Land use and land cover (LULC) change in Xi’an from 2000 to 2018 using the benefit transfer method
Summary
The ecosystem services value (ESV) reflects the ability of ecosystems to provide various products and services for human production and life. Land use and land cover (LULC) change are important forces that drive change in the ESV, and in turn, affect landscape patterns and the allocation of ecosystem service functions [2,3]. Some land use activities may lead to increasing negative effects on the ecological environment, such as water pollution, soil salinization, desertification, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline, which will affect the formation and supply of ecosystem services, such as water supply, food production, hydrological cycle, and pollination [4,5,6]. In the context of economic development, human interference caused approximately 60% of the degradation of ecosystem services from 1965 to 2015 [7]. Changes in LULC mainly affect the structure and function of ecosystems. Knowledge about LULC change and ESV can be used for the rational allocation of land resources, land management and protection, and ecological protection in the study area
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
