Forest Protection Research Articles

Fractionation of Inorganic Phosphorus in Cold Temperate Forest Soils: Associating Mechanisms of Soil Aggregate Protection and Recovery Periods after Forest Fire Disturbance

The soil aggregate is the fundamental unit of soil structure. The fractionation characteristics and influencing factors of phosphorus (P) in soil aggregates inherently link its geochemical characteristics and recycling mechanism. This work investigated the fractionation characteristics of inorganic P in cold temperate forest soils and studied the impacts of recovery periods after forest fires and soil aggregate protection mechanisms on P fractionation. Our results showed that the TP, active P, stable P, and total organic carbon (TOC) contents varied with increasing recovery years after forest fire disturbance. The TP content in the coarse particulate organic matter fraction (cPOM) exhibited an increasing trend with the number of recovery years. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and correlation analysis indicated that TOC played a crucial role in influencing the dynamics of P fractionation during the recovery process. The order of TP levels in different soil aggregate fractions was as follows: μClay > dClay > LF > cPOM > dSilt > μSilt > iPOM, with significant contributions from the cPOM and dSilt fractions. The ranking of P fractions in bulk soils was as follows: ACa-P > Fe-P > Oc-P > Or-P > De-P > Al-P > Ex-P. The protective mechanism of soil aggregates had a more significant effect on TOC than TP, with the order of protective abilities being: Phy×biochem-protected > Biochem-protected > Phy-protected > Non-protected mechanism. TOC and recovery years emerged as critical factors influencing the dynamics of different P fractions during post-fire recovery. Soil aggregate protection mechanisms demonstrated significantly higher effects on TOC than on TP. This study provides insights into the fractionation mechanisms of P in the soil–forest ecosystem of the Greater Khingan Mountains, contributing to the sustainable development and utilization of cold temperate forest ecosystems.

Rapid detection of Alternaria spp. by PCR in the newly created forest plantations on the drained bottom of the Aral Sea

Salinization and drought are the most important abiotic stress factors causing significant impact to the agriculture of Uzbekistan. To eliminate the negative consequences of the drying of the Aral Sea, large-scale works are currently being conducted on this territory to create protective forest plantations of halophytic trees and shrubs. An important issue in the protection of forest plantations is the isolation, identification and monitoring of phytopathogenic fungi associated with these forest plantations. The study's objective was to isolate Alternaria fungi from Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin, Tamarix hispida Willd., T. ramossisima Ledeb. and to also apply a diagnostic marker using PCR assays to detect and identify Alternaria pathogens in these plants. As a result of the study, 10 strains of Alternaria fungi were isolated from plant samples of black saxaul – Haloxylon aphyllum, and two tamarisk species – Tamarix hispida, Tamarix ramossisima. The dominant species was: Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire. β-tubulin gene was used as a molecular marker to distinguish and identify Alternaria spp in 34 leaf samples of Haloxylon aphyllum, Tamarix hispida and Tamarix ramossisima. The primer set used in the PCR assay was shown to be capable of detecting the presence of Alternaria in the leaves. Therefore, a β-tubulin-based diagnostic marker can be widely applied for monitoring of Alternaria infecting a wide-range of halophytic trees and shrubs in the protective forest plantations.

Detection of the Pine Wilt Disease Using a Joint Deep Object Detection Model Based on Drone Remote Sensing Data

Disease and detection is crucial for the protection of forest growth, reproduction, and biodiversity. Traditional detection methods face challenges such as limited coverage, excessive time and resource consumption, and poor accuracy, diminishing the effectiveness of forest disease prevention and control. By addressing these challenges, this study leverages drone remote sensing data combined with deep object detection models, specifically employing the YOLO-v3 algorithm based on loss function optimization, for the efficient and accurate detection of tree diseases and pests. Utilizing drone-mounted cameras, the study captures insect pest image information in pine forest areas, followed by segmentation, merging, and feature extraction processing. The computing system of airborne embedded devices is designed to ensure detection efficiency and accuracy. The improved YOLO-v3 algorithm combined with the CIoU loss function was used to detect forest pests and diseases. Compared to the traditional IoU loss function, CIoU takes into account the overlap area, the distance between the center of the predicted frame and the actual frame, and the consistency of the aspect ratio. The experimental results demonstrate the proposed model’s capability to process pest and disease images at a slightly faster speed, with an average processing time of less than 0.5 s per image, while achieving an accuracy surpassing 95%. The model’s effectiveness in identifying tree pests and diseases with high accuracy and comprehensiveness offers significant potential for developing forest inspection protection and prevention plans. However, limitations exist in the model’s performance in complex forest environments, necessitating further research to improve model universality and adaptability across diverse forest regions. Future directions include exploring advanced deep object detection models to minimize computing resource demands and enhance practical application support for forest protection and pest control.

Smallholder participation in zero-deforestation supply chain initiatives in the Indonesian palm oil sector: Challenges, opportunities, and limitations

As actors in tropical agricultural commodity supply chains implement commitments to end deforestation, they risk exacerbating social inequities by excluding smallholder farmers, who are important producers of many tropical commodity crops. Here, we explore the potential for independent oil palm smallholders in Indonesia to participate in zero-deforestation supply chains. We find that these smallholders are underrepresented in the share of zero-deforestation compliant oil palm production. We then synthesize perspectives from key actors in the oil palm industry including smallholders and their representatives, palm oil producing and consulting companies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic researchers. Based on these perspectives, we find that challenges to smallholder supply chain participation include limitations in knowledge (e.g., smallholders may not know the location of protected forests), institutional issues (e.g., absence of trust between oil palm growing companies and smallholder farmers), and financial constraints (e.g., the opportunity cost of not clearing forest). To address these shortcomings, we encourage oil palm growing and milling companies to take the lead on incentivizing, supporting, and facilitating smallholder participation in zero-deforestation initiatives. Specifically, these companies could build and use their technical and political resources to identify and map all forests in their entire supply shed and ensure small producers have land rights that enable participation in zero-deforestation supply chains. These policy levers would need to be combined with economic incentives such as access to improved inputs or price premia for their products. However, we caution that smallholder integration into existing zero-deforestation supply chains alone is unlikely to result in significant additional forest conservation at scale in Indonesia due to selection bias, leakage, and existing land tenure norms. Community-led and jurisdictional or landscape-scale supply chain initiatives that acknowledge multi-commodity production are more likely to provide equitable and just avenues for Indonesian smallholder farmers to steward forest resources.

Forest Protection Tax Policy in the Context of Portuguese Societies

This article aims to study the fiscal incentives for forest protection in Portugal. Understanding the reality of this fiscal policy is fundamental in the context of sustainable forest management. After reviewing the literature focused on the importance of the forest as an essential asset to meet human needs, the Portuguese tax regime in this area is analysed. This is followed by a study of tax incentives for Forest Intervention Areas (FIA) and Forest Management Plans (FMP) in the Portuguese business context in the period 2015-2020. The main results of the research show that companies connected to the sector have become more aware of the importance of adopting more sustainable practices, by adhering to these tax benefits over time, showing the role of environmental tax policy in the sustainable growth of the economic tissue. The results show that the number of beneficiary companies is reduced compared to the total number of companies operating in the forestry sector in Portugal, also verifying that most of these companies are concentrated in a small number of municipalities, some of which have no ZIF. Ther is still important work to be done with a view to greater dissemination of the tax benefits under study.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Forest Development and Protection in Light of the Sharia and the Provisions Pertaining to Statutory

Islamic law, or Sharia, pays close attention to all issues that are beneficial to people's religious and secular lives. The laws of the Kingdom, especially those concerning the preservation and growth of forests, are taken from the writings of the Sharia because the foundation of the Saudi Arabian constitution is the Qur'ān and the Sunnah. Based on the main statutory sources, which are the texts of the Qur'ān and the Sunnah, as well as the enacted statutory provisions on the forests, this paper demonstrates how the Saudi Arabian government has prioritized the development and protection of the forests, and how the statutory provisions in the Kingdom are an extension of the Sharia.

Economic effects of a controlled mangrove-to-pond coverage ratio policy on mangrove conservation and shrimp farming: A case study in vietnam using instrumental regression analysis

The mangrove-shrimp farming model in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region was devised to foster mangrove conservation while supporting the livelihoods of small-scale shrimp farmers by allocating them land for both mangrove protection and shrimp farming. However, this model faces challenges as farmers often clear mangrove areas to expand shrimp ponds, seeking greater profits. Based on data collected from structured interviews with shrimp farming households, an Instrumental Variable (IV) regression method is used in this study to examine the economic viability of mangrove-shrimp farming in the Tam Giang Protection Forest of Ca Mau province and predict the impacts of recommended fixed mangrove-to-pond coverage ratios (MPR) on shrimp yield and household income in two different scenarios. Findings reveal that almost half of the surveyed farmers do not meet the recommended MPR, prioritizing pond expansion over mangrove protection, suggesting prevalent noncompliance and ineffective regulatory enforcement. Additionally, the research highlighted the critical role of mangrove-shrimp farming in the livelihoods of these communities, with findings indicating that even minimal increases in pond area can enhance productivity. Conversely, stricter pond coverage regulations could potentially worsen the economic situation for numerous households.

Numerical Simulation of the Plant Shelterbelt Configuration Based on Porous Media Model

Low-coverage line-belt-pattern protective forests offer significant advantages in terms of wind and sand control measures. It is important to study the windbreak effectiveness of sand-fixing forests with different spacing for the construction and optimization of plant shelterbelt configurations. The effect of plant spacing on the flow field around a row of trees was investigated using the k-ε turbulence model coupled with the porous media model. In order to accurately simplify the complex and stochastic plant constitutive features, we simplify the plant canopy to a circular platform geometry, which introduces a porous media model, and the plant trunk is simulated as a solid cylinder. The simulation results show that windbreaks only affect wind profiles up to 1.25-times the height of the tree; on the leeward side of the canopy, large-spaced shelterbelts provide greater protection in the near-wake zone, while small-spaced shelterbelts are more effective at reducing velocity in the re-equilibration zone. The flow field recovery properties of the trunk and canopy indicate that the canopy wake zone is longer. In this study, we also quantitatively analyze the relationship between average wind protection effectiveness as a function of plant spacing and streamwise distance from the leeward side of the canopy, and the given parameterized scheme shows a power exponential relationship between wind protection effectiveness and plant spacing and a logarithmic relationship with streamwise distance. This scheme can provide a predictive assessment of the effects during the implementation of the plant shelterbelt.

Study on the Effect and Enhancement of Near-Natural Integrated Plant Positioning Configuration in the Hilly Gully Region, China

The establishment of protective forests plays a crucial role in mitigating soil erosion on slopes within hilly and gully regions. However, in practical applications, the configuration of protective forests on slopes is intricate and diverse, and the suitability and rationality of different configuration patterns for various slope sections have not been thoroughly investigated. This study focuses on a 40-year-old artificial protective forest, examining 16 different configuration patterns on the top, middle, and lower slopes. It compares the growth conditions, community structure stability, and characteristics of the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity. The findings indicate that the top slope should be identified as a critical area for slope protection. The optimal configuration for this area is the “tree + grass” pattern with a spacing of 5 m × 5 m, which promotes the optimal growth of tree species and effectively reduces the surface runoff of gravel particles ranging from 1 cm to 3 cm in diameter. On the middle slope, the “tree + shrub + grass” structure proves effective in slowing down the erosive force of slope runoff. The recommended spacing for trees is 5 m × 6 m, and for understory shrubs, it is 1 m × 6 m. This configuration pattern results in the most stable structure for the plant community and maximizes the water conservation potential of forest litter. By analyzing the characteristics of the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity, we find that the complexity of the plant configuration on the lower slopes is correlated with a greater coefficient of variation in the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity. Nevertheless, there is no significant difference in the average soil saturated hydraulic conductivity per unit area between the different configuration patterns. Consequently, the lower slope can rely on the natural recovery of herbaceous plants. The results of this research contribute valuable scientific and technical insights to the management of soil erosion in hilly and gully areas, both in China and around the world.

Elevation Accuracy of Forest Road Maps Derived from Aerial Imaging, Airborne Laser Scanning and Mobile Laser Scanning Data

Forest road maps are a fundamental source of information for the sustainable management, protection, and public utilization of forests. However, the precision of these maps is crucial to their use. In this context, we assessed and compared the elevation accuracy of terrain on three forest road surfaces (i.e., asphalt, concrete, and stone), which were derived based on data from three remote sensing technologies (i.e., aerial imaging, airborne laser scanning, and mobile laser scanning) using five geospatial techniques (i.e., inverse distance; natural neighbor; and conversion by average, maximal, and minimal elevation value). Specifically, the elevation accuracy was assessed based on 700 points at which elevation was measured in the field, and these elevations were extracted from fifteen derived forest road maps with a resolution of 0.5 m. The highest precision was found on asphalt roads derived from mobile laser scanning data (RMSE from ±0.01 m to ±0.04 m) and airborne laser scanning data (RMSE from ±0.03 m to ±0.04 m). On the other hand, the lowest precision was found on all roads derived from aerial imaging data (RMSE from ±0.11 m to ±0.23 m). Furthermore, we found significant differences in elevation between the measured and derived terrains. However, the differences in elevation between specific techniques, such as inverse distance, natural neighbor, and conversion by average, were mostly random. Moreover, we found that airborne and mobile laser scanning technologies provided terrain on concrete and stone roads with random elevation differences. In these cases, it is possible to replace a specific technique or technology with one that is similar without significantly decreasing the elevation accuracy (α = 0.05).

Legal terminology in environmental and land law: theoretical-legal analysis

The article examines the peculiarities of the formation of legal terminology in the field of environmental and land law and proves the feasibility of its improvement in connection with the adaptation of the norms of national law to the law of the European Union. The article states that today in Ukraine there is significant environmental pollution, climate change, land deterioration, which significantly worsened in connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation and caused a particularly dangerous ecological situation in the country. The article proves that the implementation of the principles of the right of citizens to a safe environment, ensuring human safety, protection and rational use of land, forest, water and subsoil resources is not possible without a clear definition of legal prescriptions enshrined in the law. The article states that one of the important aspects of the language of law is legal terminology, which makes it possible to formulate the content of a legal document. The article defines the concepts of “terminology”, “terminology”, “legal terminology”. It is noted that it is not appropriate to equate the concepts of “terminology” and “terminological system”. It has been investigated that despite the presence of established terminology in environmental law, the presence of terms in need of improvement is observed in this field, namely: “ecological law” and “environmental law”. It has been proved that for the purpose of further codification of environmental law, it seems appropriate to use the term “environmental law” as an established term of EU legislation. It has been analyzed that today the language of the law in the field of land relations is gaining importance, which is due to the formation of the land market in Ukraine and the need to adapt the norms of land law to EU law. It is noted that in land law there is a problem of identifying the terms: “land”, “land plot”. It was noted that the legal terms related to the formation of the land market in Ukraine need improvement and detailing. It was concluded that legal terminology in the field of environmental and land law is one of the important aspects of the development of the language of law. The issue of improving legal terminology in the field of environmental and land law is one of the necessary steps that will contribute to the unification and harmonization of the legal norms of the specified fields in the context of adapting the norms of national law to EU law.

Legal principles of forest fire protection on radiation hazardous lands of Ukraine in modern conditions

The legal framework for protecting forests from wildfires on radiation hazardous lands in Ukraine, especially in the current environment, considering the new challenges and threats posed by both martial law and accelerated climate change, requires a thorough analysis of the current legislation in this area, clarification of legal gaps, and identification of the most priority areas for its improvement. The purpose of this study was to analyse the system of current legislation aimed at regulating the protection and defence of forests from fires, including on radiation-hazardous lands of Ukraine, and to assess the level of efficiency of legal regulation of these social relations and to evaluate them. The methodological principles in the context of the study were general and special methods of scientific cognition, including formal logical, comparative legal, formal legal, statistical, analysis and synthesis, and dialectical methods. The study substantiated the complex nature of the system of forest protection against fires on radiation-hazardous lands. The study analysed the risks and threats of forest fires on radiation-hazardous lands in Ukraine. It is stated that the state of fire safety on the lands of the forest fund that have been affected by radiation is the most threatening at the present stage. Generalisations were made containing a set of necessary measures aimed primarily at strengthening the due level of interaction between the relevant services in organising forest protection from fires on radiation-hazardous lands of Ukraine in modern conditions. The practical value of this study lies in the fact that, considering the scientific theory and a set of methods of scientific cognition, it provides a thorough analysis of Ukrainian legislation and clarifies the peculiarities of legal support for the protection of Ukrainian forests from fires on radiation-hazardous lands at the present stage, which helped to determine the real state of legal regulation of the relevant area and gaps in the organisation of its application, which should actualise the improvement of law-making and law enforcement practice in the area under study. The findings of this study can be used to update the legal support for the activities of public institutions implementing the state policy in the field of forest protection on lands subjected to radioactive contamination

Analysis of Drought Index and Soil Infiltration to Control Fire Risk in Tropical Peatland Forest

Peatlands in Indonesia cover an area of more than 7% of the land area, around 14.95 million hectares spread over the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua, and a small part of Sulawesi. Peatlands are made use of by establishing a drainage system and clearing land. Due to the peatland’s inability to absorb water, land fires and irreversible drying are all consequences. This also takes place in a protected forest in Liang Anggang Protected Forest. The purpose of this study is to reduce the risk of fire in Liang Anggang Protected Forest by establishing a correlation between the drought index on peatlands and infiltration data. Based on an understanding of the hydrological processes that occur in peatlands, which are characterized by reduced rainfall, high drought index values, and the soil’s ability to absorb water, especially in the dry season. From June to October, especially in September, the soil is very dry. It is vulnerable to fire. Extreme caution is required in the land management process with fire from the citizens around the area.

Traditional paddy field-supported bird diversity ignored by forest-focused protection of ecosystems in tropical China.

Biodiversity in tropical regions is facing threats from agricultural expansion and intensification. Therefore, a promising future for local ecosystem conservation depends not only on traditional protected areas but also on well-managed agricultural landscapes. In this study, we compared the ecological traits of bird species in paddy fields outside of protected areas and natural forests within the protected areas of Xishuangbanna, southern China. There were 148 species in total, of which 98 were in forests and 55 in paddy fields. The abundance of birds in paddy fields was 176 per kilometer, which was much higher than the 60 per kilometer in forests. There were 26 law-protected species observed, half of which were found in each habitat. The main functional groups living in nature reserves are invertivores and frugivores, whereas paddy fields provide habitats for aquatic predator and granivore bird species. Our results indicate that paddy fields act as a refuge for wetland and grassland bird species when natural wetlands disappear, highlighting the urgent need to focus more on wetland protection and eco-friendly agricultural schemes at the landscape scale in future conservation policies.

Analisis Kinerja Polisi Kehutanan Unit Pelaksana Teknis Taman Nasional Bukit Duabelas dalam Perlindungan dan Pengamanan Kawasan

Forest Ranger is one of the functional positions tasked with carrying out Forest Police activities, including preparing, implementing, developing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on forest protection and security activities, forest area protection, and supervision of the distribution of forest products. This research aims to analyze and describe the performance of forest police in the context of area protection and security and to design strategies to enhance the performance of Forest Police at Bukit Duabelas National Park. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. Sampling is done purposively, and data analysis techniques include data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. The results of this study indicate that in carrying out area protection and security activities, forest ranger adjust individual performance targets with organizational performance targets outlined in pre-emptive and preventive security activities which have succeeded in reducing area disturbances such as encroachment and Illegal Logging. Encroachment disturbance is dominant in the Bukit Duabelas National Park Region II Tebo Management Section, while Illegal Logging disturbance is dominant in the Bukit Duabelas National Park Region I Batanghari Management Section. Strategies to improve the performance of forest police in area protection and security include: (1) Increasing Capability, (2) Improving Skills, (3) Enhancing Knowledge, (4) Improving Attitudes, (5) Boosting Motivation, and (6) Managing Stress.

Training on making compost blocks using agroforestry waste for the Pujo Makmur forest farmers group, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung

Protected forests serve as the fundamental protection for the support system of life, regulating water resources, preventing floods, controlling erosion, mitigating saltwater intrusion, and preserving soil fertility. However, in reality, many protected forests are converted into agricultural land. To address this issue, the government grants land use permits through the Community Forest (HKm) system. The HKm system typically involves planting a combination of agricultural and forestry crops (agroforestry). The variety of crops grown in one area yields abundant harvests, but it also generates a significant amount of waste. Consequently, waste becomes a problem, although plant waste can be utilized to make compost. The objective of this community service activity is to provide education and training on making compost blocks. The method employed in this activity is education and training provided to farmers. The results of this community service activity enhance the knowledge of the Pujo Makmur Farmer Group regarding the benefits of compost blocks, the process of making them, and their usage.

An Assessment of Forestry Policy in The European Union, Turkey and Various Countries

In many parts of the world, forests have been seen only as an economic value and forestry policies have been in this direction. Later, when forests started to disappear, the protectionist period started and forest policies were shaped in this direction. In this study, the reflections of sustainable foresty policy and environmental and forest protection in the Eurpoion Union (EU), Turkey and a few other countries are examined and the protection measures and recommendations of the countries are analyzed. The aim of the study is to reveal the devolopment process of forestry policies and to reveal what has been done to ensure the protection of forests. When we look at the policies followed by the countries, it is seen that the world is now pursuing a conscious forestry policy.

Sustainable Development versus Extractivist Deforestation in Tropical, Subtropical, and Boreal Forest Ecosystems: Repercussions and Controversies about the Mother Tree and the Mycorrhizal Network Hypothesis.

This research reviews the phenomenon of extractive deforestation as a possible trigger for cascade reactions that could affect part of the forest ecosystem and its biodiversity (surface, aerial, and underground) in tropical, subtropical, and boreal forests. The controversy and disparities in criteria generated in the international scientific community around the hypothesis of a possible link between "mother trees" and mycorrhizal networks in coopetition for nutrients, nitrogen, and carbon are analyzed. The objective is to promote awareness to generate more scientific knowledge about the eventual impacts of forest extraction. Public policies are emphasized as crucial mediators for balanced sustainable development. Currently, the effects of extractive deforestation on forest ecosystems are poorly understood, which requires caution and forest protection. Continued research to increase our knowledge in molecular biology is advocated to understand the adaptation of biological organisms to the new conditions of the ecosystem both in the face of extractive deforestation and reforestation. The environmental impacts of extractive deforestation, such as the loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, altered water cycles, and the contribution of climate change, remain largely unknown. Long-term and high-quality research is essential to ensure forest sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity for future generations.

Multi-Scenario Prediction of Land-Use Changes and Ecosystem Service Values in the Lhasa River Basin Based on the FLUS-Markov Model

The quantitative evaluation and prediction of ecosystem service value (ESV) in the Lhasa River Basin can provide a basis for ecological environment assessment and land-use optimization and adjustment in the future. Previous studies on the ESV in the Lhasa River Basin have focused mainly on static assessment and evolution analysis based on historical data, and have not considered future development trends. Moreover, most of the current driving factors selected in land use and ESV prediction studies are homogeneous, and do not reflect the geographical and cultural characteristics of the study area well. With the Lhasa River Basin as the research focus, 20 driving factors were selected according to the characteristics of the plateau alpine area, and the land-use changes under three developmental orientations, namely, natural evolution, ecological protection, and agricultural development, were predicted for the year 2030 with the FLUS-Markov model. Based on these predictions, the values of ecosystem services were calculated, and their spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the model has high accuracy in simulating land-use change in the Lhasa River Basin, with a kappa coefficient of 0.989 and an overall accuracy of 99.33%, indicating a high applicability. The types of land use in the Lhasa River basin are dominated by the existence of grassland, unused land, and forest, with a combined proportion of 94.3%. The change trends of each land-use type in the basin under the three scenarios differ significantly, with grassland, cropland, and building land showing the most significant changes. The area of cropland increased only in the agricultural development scenario; the areas of forest and grassland increased only in the ecological protection scenario; and the expansion of building land was most effectively controlled in the ecological protection scenario. The ESV increased in all three scenarios, and the spatial distribution of the ESV per unit area in the middle and lower reaches was greater than that in the upper reaches. The ESV was the greatest in the ecological protection scenario, with grasslands, forests, and water bodies contributing more to the ESV of the basin. This study provides decision-making references for the effective utilization of land resources, ecological environmental protection planning, and urban construction in the Lhasa River Basin in the future.

The Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics of the Ecosystem Service Value and Conversion Rate in China’s Key State-Owned Forest Regions

To achieve a sustainable development path that harmonizes ecological and economic considerations, China has advocated the “two mountains” concept: “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. This idea posits that those who protect the environment can economically benefit by selling pristine landscapes and utilizing rich ecological resources. This paper use “the equivalence factor method” to calculate ecological benefits, introduces a technical measure—the conversion rate of ecosystem service value—and analyzes its temporal and spatial evolution from 2003 to 2020 in the operational areas of 87 state-owned forestry enterprises in Northeast China. The findings show: (1) a significant improvement in ecosystem-service quality, with its value increasing from 404.7 to 850.2 billion CNY between 2003 and 2020. The restoration of the ecological environment in China’s KSFR provides a foundation for economic and social development. (2) A decrease in the economic gains derived by operators from developing protected ecosystems, with the most significant decline observed in economic benefits generated from the supply product, including timber harvesting. However, the industrial structure in KSFR shifted from being dominated by timber production to diversified development, with non-timber forest resources becoming an important part of regional economic growth. (3) Significant potential for realizing the value of ecosystem services, evidenced by an increasing trend in the conversion rates of cultural, regulatory, and supporting services. These findings underscore the effectiveness of China’s natural forest protection and restoration policies in optimizing forest ecology and realizing the “two mountains” concept through appropriate market transactions and ecological compensation mechanisms.