Spatial-temporal changes in ecosystem services and the trade-off relationship in mountain regions: A case study of Hengduan Mountain region in Southwest China

Abstract

Mountain regions are usually regarded as important ecological functional areas that provide various ecosystem services to the people living in the mountains and surrounding areas. However, mountain regions are also fragile areas for both climate change and land use change. Over the past two decades, China’s mountain regions have experienced climate change and dramatic land use changes that have been driven by policy. It is unknown how mountainous ecosystem services change under the drive of these two factors, or what management strategies should be adopted. This study focuses on the Hengduan Mountain region in southwest China as the study area. Based on the various simulated ecosystem services from 1990 to 2015, we identified the main influencing factors for the spatial and temporal changes of ecosystem services, the trade-off relationship, and the ecosystem service bundles by the use of correlation and cluster analysis. The results showed that: (1) Water yield and soil erosion were mainly affected by precipitation, while habitat quality and carbon storage were more affected by land use changes. The implementation of ecological projects significantly enhanced the habitat quality and carbon storage. (2) Synergy relationship existed between habitat quality and some of regulating services, indicating that current institutional reforms of China’s management of protected areas aimed at protecting intact habitat quality will promote local regulating services. (3) Three bundles were determined on the county scale, and different management strategies should be taken. Agriculture, carbon, and water bundles should focus on cultivated land protection, grassland protection, and rational utilization of water resources, respectively. This study will enrich the research of mountain ecosystem services and provide important support for local ecosystem management.