Restoration Zone Research Articles

Linking endangered species protection to construct and optimize ecological security patterns in the National ecological Civilization construction Demonstration Zone: A case study of Yichang, China

Constructing an ecological security pattern (ESP) is an effective measure to ensure environmental safety and urban development. With the establishment of national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone in China, higher requirements are put forward for biodiversity conservation. Previous studies have focused on the identification and construction of ESPs, while few studies have optimized ESPs based on endangered species protection. This study took Yichang as the research object, and used geospatial data and endangered species data to construct and optimize ESPs. We identified ecological sources through ecological sensitivity assessment and extracted ecological corridors based on minimum cumulative resistance model. On this basis, this study innovatively introduced endangered species information, optimized an ESP and discussed ecological function zones in order to play a greater role in biodiversity conservation. The results showed that: (1) The ESP of Yichang includes 12 ecological sources with a total area of 2,186.34 km2, 30 ecological corridors with a total length of 1120.44 km and 15 ecological nodes. (2) The optimization of ESP connects important nature reserves and scenic tourist areas, bringing endangered species into the corridor network. The corridors importance evaluation delineated 8 Level I corridors focusing on biological protection and 22 Level II corridors focusing on landscape construction. (3) The ecological function zones of Yichang are divided into ecological conservation zone, ecological control zone and ecological restoration zone, and the spatial control principles of each zone are clearly defined. The results can provide a reference for biodiversity conservation in species-rich cities.

Prediction of ecological security patterns based on urban expansion: A case study of Chengdu

Urbanisation affects the health and stability of ecosystem significantly. Constructing a scientific ecological security pattern (ESP) is of paramount importance for safeguarding the health of ecosystems within a region, optimising ecological spaces, and ensuring sustainability. To investigate the effect of urbanisation on the ESP, we utilised the Vigour–Organisation–Resilience-Services (VORS) model to analyse the changes in ecosystem health (EH) and identify degraded areas in the city of Chengdu. In this case study. We used the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) Model to predict the urban expansion trends in 2035 and evaluate the changing ESP. Additionally, we used the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model and circuit theory to construct an ecological network to facilitate multilayer planning of ESP. We identified an ecological source area of approximately 4484.29 km2 and a recovery zone of 1608.35 km2 for managing EH degradation within the ecological source. An ecological conservation zone of 987.48 km2 with restricted development outside the ecological source, and a restoration zone of 71.66 km2 to mitigate the impact of urban expansion on ecological security were also identified. Seven stable corridors with consistent spatial patterns and pressure levels and six potential corridors await restoration. Based on the analysis of changes in ecosystem health and dynamic ESPs, different scenarios were simulated for 2035. The findings suggested significant variations in EH and ESP around 2010 despite rapid expansion in Chengdu. The ecological environment was partially restored by increasing the land area and controlling its contraction. Therefore, scientific planning of ESPs, limiting the boundaries of urban expansion, and accurately assessing the health of ecosystems are crucial for ensuring ecological security.

Recommending Surface Water Quality Monitoring for the Nature Reserve Using Multivariate Statistical Methods

Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve has a crucial role in conserving and protecting the natural ecosystem and biodiversity in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, and the local communities also receive great benefits from aquatic resources in this nature reserve. This study was conducted to assess water quality in the Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve and to provide important information for the monitoring program using multivariate statistical methods. Water samples were collected bimonthly from fifteen locations belonging to five functional zones of the nature reserve (i.e., buffer zone, main canal, administrative and service zone, ecological restoration zone, and strictly protected zone). The physiochemical properties of water samples were measured, including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), sulfate (SO42-), iron (Fe2+), and aluminum (Al3+). The results showed that the levels of TSS, COD, and Fe2+ exceeded the Vietnamese standard on surface water quality, and the DO level was also far below the standard. Besides, the concentrations of TN, TP, and Al3+ in the nature reserve area showed the risk of eutrophication and negative effects on aquatic organisms. Problems of water quality were observed in the main canal and the administrative and service zones more than in the other zones. Cluster analysis (CA) suggested a reduction in the number of monitoring frequencies and locations to four months (i.e., January, April, July, and September) and twelve locations, respectively. This reduction allows for a decrease in the effort and cost of the monitoring program with adequate information to evaluate water quality. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) identified five principal components, which could explain 80.98% of the total variance of the initial dataset. Potential pollution sources were also recognized based on PCA, including the nature properties of sulfate-acid soils, livestock, fertilizer, and domestic activities. The findings of this study can enhance our understanding of water quality in the nature reserve area and the effectiveness of future monitoring programs. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-SP2023-09-015 Full Text: PDF

Supply-demand bundles and ecological function management of urban ecosystem services: Taking central urban area of Qiqihar as an example

The comprehensive management of multiple ecosystem services is the focus of current research in the field of ecosystem service. The ecological space in the central urban area is scarce, but ecological needs are diverse. How to scientifically use urban land while considering various ecological functions has gradually become an academic hotspot. Taking the central urban area of Qiqihar as an example, we applied the ecosystem service bundle theory to analyze the supply and demand relationship of five ecosystem services in the study area, including flood regulation, air purification, carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and cultural recreation. Based on the supply-demand ratio, we identified the supply-demand bundles of ecosystem services in the study area, completed the division of ecological functional areas, and proposed corresponding spatial control strategies. The results showed that the supply of those five services presented a spatial pattern of low in the city center and south side, while high in the northwest and southeast side, and that the demand for those five services presented a spatial pattern of high in the city center and low around the city. Air purification, biodiversity conservation, and cultural recreation ser-vices were in short supply, with a supply-demand ratio of -0.160, -0.071, and -0.008, respectively. The supply to demand ratios of flood regulation and carbon storage and sequestration services were in excess, with a supply to demand ratio of 0.089 and 0.008, respectively. The spatial imbalance between supply and demand of various services was significant. The research area could be divided into six types of ecosystem service bundles. After comprehensive analysis, the research area would be further divided into four types of zones: urban ecological restoration zone, urban ecological strengthening zone, urban development transition zone, and urban ecological conservation zone. We proposed targeted functional optimization strategies based on the spatial relationship, ecological background characteristics, and supply and demand ratios of various services within the zone.

Identifying ecological degradation and restoration zone based on ecosystem quality: A case study of Yangtze River Delta

Approximately 60% of the world's ecosystems are in a degraded and unsustainable state, drawing significant attention to the issue of ecological degradation. Diagnosing the scope and extent of ecological degradation is important to enhance the efficiency of restoration. Ecosystem quality was used to identify ecological degradation of Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in this study, which was constructed on three dimensions: ecosystem structure, stability, and services. Sequential t-test analysis of regime shifts were utilized to assess the spatiotemporal changes in ecological quality over 2000–2020 in both raster and townships level. The results showed that ecological quality has remained stable since 2000, but 21% of YRD's total area was degraded. Ecological degradation was concentrated in the coastal and riverine regions. Central and southern parts of Jiangsu and Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province also underwent ecological degradation. Considering that the ecological degradation types of degraded townships within the same watershed were similar, the ecological degradation zones were divided into 10 ecological restoration zones based on watershed and administrative boundaries. The findings offer guidance for green ecological integration and sustainable development of the YRD; and the scientific methods devised here for ecological degradation assessment and restoration zoning are applicable to other regions.

Ecological zoning and dynamic assessment of effectiveness in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

Human activities render ecological conservation a formidable challenge. The rational zoning and dynamic evaluation of ecological regions are critical for the protection of regional biodiversity and the promotion of ecological sustainability. Here, the InVEST-HFI model was used to evaluate both the habitat quality (HQ) and the human footprint index (HFI) of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA), a representative ecologically vulnerable area in southwest China. Superimposition analysis was employed to identify eco-regional zoning types and the PLUS model was applied to simulate and evaluate the benefits of ecological zoning. The results showed that the overall HQ of the TGRA area is satisfactory, with high-grade HQ areas covering 50.16 % of the entire reservoir area, mainly distributed in the Hubei section. The HFI displays a spatial distribution pattern, with higher values concentrated in the southwest and lower values in the northeast; there was also a concentration of high-value areas in Chongqing. Based on the HQ and HFI, the TGRA can be divided into three ecological protection zone types—a strict ecological protection zone, accounting for 57.18 % of the total area and distributed in the head and belly of the reservoir; a habitat restoration zone, accounting for 17.45 % of the total area and distributed in the tail of the reservoir; and a moderate development zone, which is scattered along the main stream of the Yangtze River in the middle of the reservoir. Simulation projections of land use in the TGRA for natural development and zoning protection scenarios until 2035 revealed that the ecosystem service value (ESV) of the latter scenario is 2.25 billion yuan higher than that of the former. Ecological zoning management can improve the ESV of the TGRA. We demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing the HQ and HFI measures in ecological zoning, thus providing a valuable reference for assessing its benefits.

Research on CLUFS and Its Application in Rapid Prediction of the Impact of Regulating Services Value in Construction Projects

With the development of human society and the acceleration of urbanization, the impact of construction projects on the ecological environment is increasingly attracting attention. Conducting an ecological environmental impact assessment of construction projects is crucial to protect the ecological environment and achieve sustainable development. To estimate how construction projects would affect the value of ecosystem services, this paper develops the China Land Use Feature Data Sets (CLUFS) and uses the Beijing “One Line Four Mines” project as an example. Research found that the project’s conservation and restoration zone and the landscape construction zone will significantly enhance the ecosystem regulation services value. The conservation and restoration zone will increase by 30% from the current 1.413 billion yuan per year to 1.836 billion yuan per year, and the landscape construction zone will increase by 69% from the current 400 million yuan per year to 676 million yuan per year. The tourism development zone, dominated by urban construction, will result in a decrease in ecosystem regulation services, from 19.26 million yuan per year to 17.60 million yuan per year by 9%. Overall, the “One Line Four Mines” project achieved a balance of ecological value and surplus. The method proposed in this paper for predicting the impact of ecosystem regulation services value on construction projects can be used to quickly evaluate the effects of different planning schemes on the ecosystem services value of land parcels to help urban planning decision-makers control the condition of land use. It can provide new indicators for the ecological environment department to incorporate ecological benefits into the evaluation system of planning schemes and new methods for evaluating the ecological protection effectiveness of projects.

Construction of Multi-Level Ecological Security Pattern for World Natural Heritage Sites from the Perspective of Coupling and Coordination between Humans and Nature: A Case Study of Shilin Yi Autonomous County, China

Building ecological networks (ENs) is an important means to guarantee regional ecological security and achieve sustainable urban development. Development of ENs usually occurs at the county- or urban-area-scale, and there is a lack of linkage between ENs at different levels. Based on the systematic analysis of local environmental characteristics and ecological mechanisms of action in karst areas, the ENs at the county and urban areas levels are combined to build an ecological security pattern (ESP) for Shilin Yi Autonomous County (SYAC), a World Natural Heritage site. The results show that there are 18 Ecological resources in SYAC, with a total area of 326.512 km2 and 29 ecological corridors. In the northern part of the county, an absence of ecological resources and corridors occurred due to the fragmentation of landscape patches and poor ecological service functionality. In this study, three new ecological resources and seven corridors were added in the northern part of the county according to the patch area and landscape connectivity index (PALCI) to balance the layout of ecological resources and corridors in SYAC and improve regional habitat quality. In addition, a total of eight cultural and natural resources were identified in the urban areas of SYAC, and ten cultural and natural landscape corridors were identified. By overlaying the ENs of the county and the urban areas, we identified 3.977 km2 of Material Exchange Conversion Zone, 12.6593 km2 of Priority Restoration Zone, and ten Ecological Stepping Stones. This work helps to establish the interface between the upper and lower levels of the network, and correct for deficiencies of conflicting ecological processes at different levels, and integrate existing green-space system planning research about karst terrains.

Identification of ecological functional zoning and its influencing factors in the Sihu Lake Basin, China

Rational delineation of ecological functional areas and clarification of their driving factors are of significance for maintaining regional ecosystem stability. We assessed six ecosystem services of Sihu Lake Basin located in Jianghan Plain using InVEST and RUSLE models and recreational scoring methods. By using K-means clustering, we identified the ecosystem service bundles, and delineated the ecological functional areas in combination with ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service bundles. The dominant driving factors of different ecological functional areas were analyzed by Geodetector. The results showed that the spatial distributions of habitat quality and carbon sequestration services were similar, with high values being mainly concentrated in Changhu Lake Basin and Honghu Lake Basin. However, the spatial distributions of crop production and soil conservation services were different, with high-value areas concentrated in the northwest area with mountains. The high values of water production service were mainly concentrated in the eastern part of Honghu Lake Basin, while the high-value areas of ecological recreation service were mainly concentrated in the northwest area and the southern part of Honghu Lake Basin. The Sihu Lake Basin could be classified into crop production bundle, habitat quality bundle, and urban living bundle according to cluster analysis. The low ecological sensitivity areas accounted for 59.0% of the Sihu Lake Basin. We classified the study area into ecological restoration areas, ecological conservation areas, ecological transition areas, ecological development areas, and comprehensive use areas by combination of ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service bundles. The geodetector results indicated that the driving factors of each ecological function zone were significantly different. The natural factors significantly influenced the ecological restoration zone, while the normalized vegetation index and population density were the main influencing factors in the ecological conservation zone and the ecological development zone, respectively. Land use type was the main influencing factor in the ecological transition zone and the comprehensive use zone. The results could provide important support for coordinated regional social development and environmental protection.

Research on ecological restoration zoning from the hydro-ecological perspective: A case study of Yanqing District, Beijing

To prevent the degradation and destruction of ecosystems, ecological restoration has become a worldwide issue. In recent years, China has been comprehensively carrying out relevant work on national spatial ecological restoration planning, among which the work on ecological restoration zoning can provide strong support for the implementation of ecological restoration strategies. We propose a theoretical framework and technical route for ecological restoration zoning from the hydro-ecological perspective, and suggest forming a regional ecological restoration zoning system based on the watershed as the basic unit and the dynamic evolution process of hydro-ecology as the core. We conduct an empirical study in Yanqing District, Beijing. The results show that: (i) From 2000 to 2022, the hydro-ecological comprehensive index of Yanqing District shows an upward trend. In terms of spatial pattern changes, it roughly shows a rising trend in the northeastern and southern mountainous areas, and a downward trend in the central-western and southwestern basins. (ii) Six types of ecological restoration zones are formed with the watershed as the basic unit. Zone Ⅰ accounts for the largest area (26.87%), and Zone Ⅵ accounts for the smallest proportion (7.14%). (iii) The proportion of areas with good or superior hydro-ecology in the Ecological Policy Zone of Yanqing District increased by 15.89% from 2000 to 2022, which is significantly higher than the average level, confirming the effectiveness of ecological policies such as nature reserves. This study provides a paradigm for ecological restoration zoning from the hydro-ecological perspective, and provides assistance for regional ecological restoration and sustainable development in China and even globally.

Review of Managing Soil Organic C Sequestration from Vegetation Restoration on the Loess Plateau

China’s Loess Plateau is both the largest and deepest loess deposit in the world, and it has long been one of the most severely eroded areas on Earth. With the implementation of the Grain-for-Green Project in 1999, the Loess Plateau has become the most successful ecological restoration zone, and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration has greatly increased. However, little is known about the balance of SOC sequestration and vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau. Thus, this review focused on the SOC sequestration from vegetation restoration in this region. Firstly, the current situations and principal aspects of vegetation restoration processes were reviewed, and the effects of vegetation restoration on SOC sequestration were summarized. Secondly, based on the new technologies and methods for soil carbon (C) sequestration, the mechanism of soil microbial C sequestration was described from the molecular level of genes, and some management measures for SOC sequestration were summarized. Finally, we pointed out the main directions in C sequestration mechanisms for vegetation restoration depending on the basic process of the C cycle, which should integrate into physics, chemistry, and biology. Overall, this review will help us understand the SOC sequestration function and the ecological benefits of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau.

Ecosystem health assessment and approaches to improve Sichuan Province based on an improved vigor organization resilience model

Ecological degradation is a global issue that seriously threatens sustainable human development, and the evaluation of ecosystem health (EH) is the primary condition for regional ecological restoration work. In this study, we optimized the classic vigor organization resilience (VOR) model and analyzed the spatial distribution pattern of the ecosystem health index (EHI) in Sichuan Province in 2020 and 2005. We determined the land spatial ecosystem restoration zone (ESZ), ecological degradation zone (EDZ), and ecological improvement zone (EIZ) in Sichuan Province. The results indicate that (1) the kappa values of the VOR models for 2020 and 2005 were 33.84 and 32.74, respectively, which were below 100. (2) The ranges of EHI values in Sichuan Province in 2020 and 2005 were 0.238–0.892 and 0.218–0.896, respectively. (3) The areas of EDZ and EIZ were 41781.84 and 26032 km2, accounting for 8.58 and 5.35% of the total area of Sichuan Province, respectively. (4) The total area of the ESZ accounts for 36.46% of that of Sichuan Province. This study is beneficial for eco-environmental management departments to develop ecological restoration strategies based on local ESZ, EDZ, and EIZ.

Multiscale influences on Elk (Cervus canadensis) calving site selection across a fragmented Appalachian landscape

Abstract Due to the vulnerability of neonatal ungulates, selection of a birth site can have important implications for offspring survival and thus fitness of the mother. We studied parturition site selection in cow Elk in southeastern Kentucky, United States, using a use–availability framework to evaluate the effects of landscape variables sampled at multiple spatial grains on the relative probability of use of parturition sites. We identified 81 Elk parturition sites during May–Aug 2020–2022 and fit several candidate resource selection function models using a sample of 24,314 random locations to characterize habitat availability. Using an information-theoretic approach to rank candidate models, we identified two top-performing models (cumulative ωi = 0.97), which indicated that at fine spatial grains (~10- and 30-m pixels) parturient cow Elk selected for intermediate canopy cover and lower terrain ruggedness compared to available locations. At coarse grains (250–1,000-m buffers/neighborhoods), Elk selected against vegetation greenness/biomass, for higher topographic positions, for closer proximity to major roads, and with higher solar radiation potential. We also found evidence that Elk responded positively to forest/open edge densities at coarse grains, demonstrating that calving habitat throughout the Kentucky Elk Restoration Zone is associated with heterogeneous landscapes resulting from surface mine reclamation. As a result, habitat management actions should aim to increase patchy, early successional shrub cover on gentle topography.

Vegetation restoration in South China’s karst region under geological background constraint: Forest or non-forest

Over the past two decades, the karst region in southern China has emerged as a critical area for ecological conservation and restoration, attracting global attention for its efforts in ‘greening.’ However, particular areas face challenges transitioning into forests due to the carbonate bedrock constraint, which likely undermines sustainability of greening efforts in karst regions. This study overviews the significant achievements in vegetation restoration in the karst region of southwest China, emphasizing the potential of short-term ecological restoration in effectively sequestering carbon, a valuable approach to achieving carbon neutrality in the region. However, combating rocky desertification remains difficult due to geological limitations that hinder large-scale afforestation. Additionally, variations in soil and rock composition impact the success and quality of vegetation restoration, leading to some areas failing to establish forests. Therefore, establishing the goals for rocky desertification control in different regions (enhancement, degradation, or reduction) should be based on current conditions and the evolutionary characteristics of rocky desertification. To facilitate precise afforestation and grass planting in the karst region, factors such as climate, rock conditions, and human-environment relationships should be considered in regional divisions, including natural restoration zones, artificial afforestation zones, grass planting zones, and protected zones.

Identification of Key Areas and Early-Warning Points for Ecological Protection and Restoration in the Yellow River Source Area Based on Ecological Security Pattern

The Yellow River Source Area is located in the ecological protection and restoration area of the Sanjiangyuan in China, which has been deteriorating as a result of human-caused overgrazing and the grassland destruction caused by plateau rats and rabbits, as well as the influence of other natural factors. The Yellow River Source Area is an important area that implements ecological restoration and protection in the Three Rivers Source Region, where the ecologically vulnerable areas that are of great significance to the implementation of ecological restoration in national land space should be identified and the early warning should be extended. This measure can help us identify potential ecological problems and take timely and targeted protection measures to ensure the health and sustainable development of the ecosystem in the Yellow River Source Area. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the ecological vulnerability of the Yellow River Source Area and the establishment of an early warning mechanism are of vital importance for the protection and restoration of the ecology of the national space in the Yellow River Source Area. Aiming to comprehensively delimit ecological restoration areas in the Yellow River Source Area and provide an early warning, this study applies the MSPA method to identify ecological source areas and uses a patch importance index to identify the importance of ecological source areas, along with extracting potential ecological corridors by using the MCR model, screening important ecological corridors by using the gravity model as a criterion, and simulating land cover changes in 2030 under the limitations of ecological security pattern by using the PLUS model. The results show that: (1) 154 potential ecological corridors were extracted based on the MCR model, with a total length of 7891.90. (2) The total area of the landscape types in the Yellow River Source Area was 12,301 based on MSPA analysis, including the 6899.57 of core area. (3) Based on the PLUS model, the area of farmland and forest in the study area will decrease, while the grassland area will increase. According to the studies, the grassland in the study area expands in a circular pattern towards the surrounding wetland and water area, threatening the ecological sources and corridors. In summary, the study delimits one protection zone in the ecological source land and two core ecological restoration zones and points out the early warning points in the ecological protection space. The delimitation and instruction provide specific spatial guidance for the protection and restoration of ecosystems in order to promote ecological sustainability.

Simulation and Zoning Research on the Ecosystem Service in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region Based on SSP–RCP Scenarios

Understanding future trends and identifying characteristic differences in regional ecosystem services (ESs), in addition to ecological zoning, is vital for promoting the adjustment of ecological policy and the construction of sustainable ecosystems. Based on shared socioeconomic pathways and representative concentration pathways (SSP–RCP), the spatial distribution pattern of land use in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) in 2030 was simulated by using a patch-generating land use simulation model (PLUS) in this study. Water yield, carbon storage, habitat quality, and food product were simulated through the comprehensive evaluation model combining ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST). The comprehensive supply capacity of ESs was assessed. The ecological risk level was calculated by comparing the changes in the integrated supply capacity of ESs in 2020 and under each SSP–RCP scenario in 2030, and ecological zoning was established using a two-dimensional discriminant matrix. The results are as follows: (1) The degradation of grassland and cropland accompanied by an increase in construction land and forest to varying degrees will be the common characteristics of the three SSP–RCP scenarios in BTH. (2) Water yield and carbon storage services will exhibit an upward tendency only under SSP1-2.6, while habitat quality and food product services will exhibit a downward trend under three SSP–RCP scenarios. Obvious geographical heterogeneity exists in the comprehensive supply capacity of ESs. (3) Zones with low ecological risks will mainly be distributed in some counties of Zhangjiakou city, while zones with high ecological risks will account for a large proportion of the whole. There will be great ecological risks in the BTH overall. (4) The BTH was split into four types of ecological zones based on supply and risk. These zones comprise the ecological enhancement zone, ecological restoration zone, ecological sensitive zone, and ecological conservation zone. Corresponding control measures were also proposed. The findings of this study can be used to inform the formulation and improvement of environmental conservation policies.

Characterizing subsidence in used and restored peatland with Sentinel SAR data

Peatland is a fragile ecosystem in the tropical region which is prone to subsidence. Until now, there is still lack of procedure to rapidly assess a tropical peatland subsidence in a large area. Our objective was to compare subsidence in a used and restored zone in a peatland hydrological unit using synthetic aperture radar data from Sentinel-1A products (SAR data) in South Sumatra, Indonesia from the period of 2014–2021. The subsidence rate of used peatland estimated by the D-InSAR procedure were in the range of 28–80 cm year−1 in the early period of its utilization and becoming less for the consecutive year (16–48 cm year−1). Meanwhile, the subsidence rate based on the field surveys was in the range of 4–50 cm year−1 in the early period of peatland utilization. The subsidence rate in the used peatland zone (agriculture and plantations) was higher than that in the restoration zone for all SAR data pairs used in our study. The SAR data is a potential tool for the assessment, monitoring and differentiating subsidence rates among different peatland uses in a large area. This tool will help the Directorate of Peat Ecosystem Degradation Control, Directorate General of Environmental Pollution and Degradation Control, and Ministry of Environment and Forestry to plan for better peatland management and restoration.

Effects of long-term herbaceous plant restoration on microbial communities and metabolic profiles in coal gangue-contaminated soil

The soil microbial diversity in the gangue accumulation area is severely stressed by a variety of heavy metals, while the influence of long-term recovery of herbaceous plants on the ecological structure of gangue-contaminated soil is to be explored. Therefore, we analysed the differences in physicochemical properties, elemental changes, microbial community structure, metabolites and expression of related pathways in soils in the 10- and 20-year herbaceous remediation areas of coal gangue. Our results showed that phosphatase, soil urease, and sucrase activities of gangue soils significantly increased in the shallow layer after herbaceous remediation. However, in zone T1 (10-year remediation zone), the contents of harmful elements, such as Thorium (Th; 1.08-fold), Arsenic (As; 0.78-fold), lead (Pb; 0.99-fold), and uranium (U; 0.77-fold), increased significantly, whereas the soil microbial abundance and diversity also showed a significant decreasing trend. Conversely, in zone T2 (20-year restoration zone), the soil pH significantly increased by 1.03- to 1.06-fold and soil acidity significantly improved. Moreover, the abundance and diversity of soil microorganisms increased significantly, the expression of carbohydrates in soil was significantly downregulated, and sucrose content was significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of microorganisms, such as Streptomyces. A significant decrease in heavy metals was observed in the soil, such as U (1.01- to 1.09-fold) and Pb (1.13- to 1.25-fold). Additionally, the thiamin synthesis pathway was inhibited in the soil of the T1 zone; the expression level of sulfur (S)-containing histidine derivatives (Ergothioneine) was significantly up-regulated by 0.56-fold in the shallow soil of the T2 zone; and the S content in the soil significantly reduced. Aromatic compounds were significantly up-regulated in the soil after 20 years of herbaceous plant remediation in coal gangue soil, and microorganisms (Sphingomonas) with significant positive correlations with benzene ring-containing metabolites, such as Sulfaphenazole, were identified.

Zoning and Optimization Strategies of Land Spatial Ecological Restoration in Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing Based on the Supply–Demand Relationship of Ecosystem Services

Ecological land restoration is necessary to develop a comprehensive land amalgamation strategy. Scientific ecological restoration zoning is crucial for the development of differentiated restoration strategies, as well as for the improvement of quality during construction. This study used a series of methods, such as the InVEST model, spatial autocorrelation, and coupling coordination degree models, using Liangjiang New Area as an example to quantify both regional ecosystem services supply and demand at the county and district levels. The land’s spatial ecological restoration zones were determined, and the optimization strategies based on the supply–demand matching and coordination relationship were presented. The results revealed the following: (1) A considerable difference was identified between the supply and demand of ecosystem services in Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing, with “high in the northeast and low in the southwest” spatial patterns for supply and “high in the southwest and low in the northeast” spatial patterns for demand; (2) The supply–demand matching relationship of ecosystem services in Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing was characterized by spatial mismatches of high supply and low demand and low supply and high demand, with an average coordination degree index of 0.2, indicating uncoordinated supply and demand; (3) Based on the supply–demand relationship of ecosystem services, the regional ecological base, and the functional orientation of upper planning, Liangjiang New Area was divided into four zones: high supply–low demand, low supply–high demand, and high supply–high demand zones, for which the respective optimization strategies were presented. In some ways, this study contributes to the existing research concerning the supply–demand relationship for small-scale ecosystem services in new development zones located in mountainous cities.

Topographic Gradient Differentiation and Ecological Function Zoning Based on Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Fuping County

Scientifically delineating ecological function zones is essential for national territory spatial planning and comprehensive management. In this study, we evaluated five ecosystem services, habitat quality, water yield, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and food production, in Fuping County, China, and introduced the application of the topographic position index in exploring the topographic gradient effect of each service. We next applied the K-means clustering algorithm to identify the ecosystem services bundles and analyze the dominant type of ecosystem service in these bundles. A particle swarm optimization-support vector machine model was also constructed to identify the boundaries of ecological function zones and complete the ecological function zoning. The results are as follows: (1) In Fuping County, the high-value areas of habitat quality are distributed in the west, north, and southeast; those of soil conservation are in the northwest, northeast, and southwest; those of water yield are in the east and south; those of carbon sequestration are in the west, and those of food production is in the east. (2) The habitat quality first decreases and then increases with an increasing topographic gradient; food production and water yield decline with increasing topographic gradient; carbon sequestration and soil conservation increase with increasing topographic gradient. (3) Four types of ecosystem services bundles were identified. The dominant ecosystem functions of Type I, II, and III bundles are food production and water yield, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation, respectively. Type IV bundles generally have low levels of ecosystem services in the study area. (4) Four ecological function zones were delineated: food production zone, ecological conservation zone, potential restoration zone, and critical restoration zone. The research findings can provide a theoretical and practical basis for formulating and implementing ecological spatial management policies in the Taihang Mountains of China.