Wetland ecosystem health improvement from ecological conservation and restoration offset the decline from socio‐economic development

Abstract

AbstractIn response to wetland degradation due to socio‐economic development, attention to ecological conservation and restoration is increasing globally. In China, more than 1100 wetland conservation and restoration projects were implemented over the past decade. However, the net effects of socio‐economic development and ecological conservation and restoration on ecosystem health have received little empirical examination. We analyzed the spatial–temporal dynamics of ecosystem health in Hengshui Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in northern China, and demonstrated the dual effect of the above‐mentioned factors on ecosystem health. The results indicated that ecosystem health increase due to conservation and restoration offset the decrease due to socio‐economic development, which resulted in a significant increase in the net value by 34.6% over the past 19 years. Wetland conservation and restoration dominated ecosystem health improvement in most study regions, while population growth determined the decrease in ecosystem health in residential regions and transportation land, thus intensifying the spatial heterogeneity. Crucially, targeted and practical conservation strategies have been provided according to the low index and regions, together with its main driving factors. The net effects, spatial heterogeneity and management strategies revealed by this case‐study provide critical implications for large‐scale wetland ecosystems that are pervasive degradation induced by socio‐economic development.