The Impact of Cropland Use Changes on Terrestrial Ecosystem Services Value in Newly Added Cropland Hotspots in China during 2000–2020

Abstract

The assessment of ecosystem services value is the basis for the realization of integrated management of these services. In recent decades, the hotspots of China’s newly added cropland have shifted to the Xinjiang oasis areas, where the ecological environment is relatively fragile. However, the impact of changes in cropland use on the terrestrial ecosystem services value (TESV) in Xinjiang, China, has not been studied in depth, and it is related to the sustainability of the dynamic balance between China’s cropland and the sustainable management of natural resources in Xinjiang. This study focuses on Xinjiang and employs the benefit transfer method and five phases (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020) of high-resolution and finely classified remote sensing monitoring data of land use to evaluate the impact of changes in cropland use on the TESV from 2000 to 2020. The findings suggest the following: (1) The cropland area in Xinjiang grew from 6.5682 million ha in 2000 to 8.9874 million ha in 2020, demonstrating significant expansion, and it has gone through four stages: rapid expansion, steady expansion, rapid expansion and relative stability. (2) A sharp mutual conversion trend is observed between cropland and other types of land use in Xinjiang. Grassland and unused land are the main sources of new cropland, while lost cropland has been mainly converted back into grassland and construction land. (3) During 2000–2020, although the extensive expansion of cropland and conversion of cropland mainly at the expense of ecological land in Xinjiang have significantly enhanced the provision services of the terrestrial ecosystem (539.49 million USD), ecosystem regulation services (−1508.47 million USD), support services (−1084.47 million USD) and cultural services (−565.05 million USD) experienced losses. Consequently, an overall loss in the TESV has ensued. This study provides new insights that help re-examine the sustainability issue of the spatial transfer of cropland in China, and it also offers guidance for the realization of the sustainable management of natural resources in Xinjiang.