Influences of Ecological Restoration Programs on Ecosystem Services in Sandy Areas, Northern China

Author:

Xu Shixian12ORCID,Su Yuan3,Yan Wei4ORCID,Liu Yuan5ORCID,Wang Yonghui67ORCID,Li Jiaxin5ORCID,Qian Kaixuan16ORCID,Yang Xiuyun12,Ma Xiaofei12ORCID

Affiliation:

1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

2. Research Centre for Ecology and Environment of CA, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

3. College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agriculture University, Jinzhong 030801, China

4. School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China

5. College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China

6. College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China

7. Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Zone, Urumqi 830054, China

Abstract

Ecosystem services (ESs) are important for supporting human development. However, a changing climate and anthropogenic impacts are resulting in the degradation of dryland ecosystems to varying degrees. While there has been the global implementation of Ecological Restoration Programs (ERPs) to restore degraded ecosystems, there remains limited comprehensive assessment of their impacts on ESs of drylands. In this study, the sandy areas of northern China were used as the study area. The RUSLE, RWEQ, CASA, and InVEST models were used to simulate four major ESs: soil conservation (SC), sand fixation (SF), carbon sequestration (CS), and water yield (WY). The study aimed to evaluate the influences of various ERPs on major ESs. The dominant factors affecting the overall benefits provided by ESs were also identified. Since ERPs were implemented, forest areas have increased by 2.8 × 104 km2, whereas the areas of cropland, shrubland, and grassland have decreased. There were generally increasing trends in SF, SC, and CS, whereas there was a decreasing trend in WY. We then used a scenario-based simulation approach to eliminate the influence of climate variability on ESs. The results showed increasing trends in SF, SC, and CS, whereas there were minimal changes in WY. The results suggested that although ERPs can significantly increase regional ESs, unregulated expansion in vegetation can result in a water crisis and affect regional water security.

Funder

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

Open Project of Key Laboratory, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

National Natural Science Foundation

Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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