Research of the Sustainable Development of Tarim River Based on Ecosystem Service Function

Abstract

The characteristic of change in value of Tarim River ecosystem service function and its causes are probed by the means of combining the remote sensing images with social statistical data related to the change in land utilization of Tarim River trunk stream area during 1973-2005. The research results reveal the relationship between the economy and ecology and the sustainable development of Tarim River. a situation of linear ascension in the value of Tarim River ecosystem service function over the past thirty years, among which, the economic value of the Cropland ecosystem service function is increased to the greatest extent, far in excess of other types of ecosystem system. The ecosystem of grassland shows a downward tendency relatively both in service supply capacity and in value contribution. The area of Cropland ecosystems increases while that of grassland ecosystems decreases. This fact indicates that the integral capacity and balance of the ecosystem in the region investigated have been affected severely and the ecosystem has deteriorated.