Mapping ecosystem services potential in Lithuania

This research presents a geographic information systems (GIS)-based method for ecosystem services (ES) potential assessment in a case study for the Lithuanian national territory. The ES potential was assessed for 31 CORINE land-cover classes (CLC2006) together with 31 ES categorized into regulating, provisioning and cultural ES. An expert-based ranking approach using a two-dimensional ES matrix and a geospatial analysis was applied to determine total ES potential, spatial patterns and relations among multiple ES. Results showed that forest areas had the highest potential for ES delivery whereas ES potential in urban areas was lowest. The spatial autocorrelation of regulating and cultural ES were dispersed while provisioning ES were significantly clustered. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified five factors with distinctive geospatial distribution: Factor 1 – forest areas, Factor 2 – aquatic environments, Factor 3 – livestock farming and energy production, Factor 4 – agricultural food production and Factor 5 – mineral extraction sites. The plotting of Factors 1 and 2 accounted for 72.81% of variance and identified three ES bundles composed by specific ES types: Bundle 1 – forest ecosystems, Bundle 2 – marine and freshwater ecosystems and Bundle 3 – mixed provisioning ecosystems. Trade-offs occur between regulating and cultural ES against the provisioning ES crop production and livestock farming. We conclude that the presented ES assessment can support decision-makers in the development of strategies for natural resources management at national and regional level, support the identification of trade-offs and synergies among ES types and foster ES research in Lithuania.     

世界保护区研究的新进展

20世纪 80年代以来 ,国家公园和自然保护区的思想和实践进入一个新的发展时期。本文从保护区文化价值观、经费、居民、科学基础和规划 5个方面分析当今世界保护区研究的新进展 ,指出维护和保持生态系统完整性是自然生态系统类保护区建设和研究的新方向     

黑河流域土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响

利用1987年和2000年1：100000Landsat TM图像解译数据分析了黑河流域土地利用变化，在此基础上，采用中国陆地生态系统服务价值的测算方法，评估了黑河流域土地利用变化引起的生态环境质量变化。结果表明，在过去的13年间，黑河流域土地利用变化总的趋势是森林、草地、河流冰川面积大幅减少，耕地、盐碱地和建筑用地迅速增加。这一变化损害了该区域的生态系统服务功能，使生态系统服务总价值(人民币)从404．22亿元／a下降到370．3亿元／a，损失率达到了8．39％。     

基于RS和GIS的武汉市生态系统服务价值变化研究

以武汉市为例,利用从1996年和2001年TM数据中获取的景观数据,估算了武汉市生态服务价值并分析了景观之间的转化所引起的生态服务价值的变化。结果表明:各景观类型中水域景观的生态服务价值贡献系数最大,达到2.869;研究区域生态服务价值总量变化不大,2001年比1996年只下降了3688.79万元,但各景观生态服务价值变动很大,其中库塘生态服务价值增加了2.38亿元,河流的生态服务价值减少了2.33亿元,其变化率分别达到40.74%和-9.16%;由于河湖被占用所造成的生态服务价值损失达到9891.68万元,城市建设占用其它景观类型所带来的生态服务价值损失达到9908.37万元,这说明建设用地的发展对其他自然景观占用已经影响到了武汉市生态系统服务功能发挥。     

中国西部自然保护区与周边社区协调发展的研究

在分析了目前中国西部自然保护区建设和管理的质量问题基础上 ,认为推行社区参与保护区共管是提高保护区管护质量的首选途径 ,并系统阐明社区参与组成共管体系的原则和技术路线以及一些模式化成果。最后 ,指出在实施社区参与共管过程中存在的 3个问题。     

资源型城市土地利用变化及其对生态系统服务价值的影响

东营市是新兴的石油资源城市,土地利用/覆被变化剧烈且具有独特的区域特征。探讨该地区的土地利用变化及其对生态系统服务价值的影响有着重要的现实意义。为此,基于RS和GIS技术,利用Costanza提出的生态系统服务价值评估方法,研究了东营市1986—2008年间的土地利用变化及其引起的生态系统服务价值动态变化。研究结果表明：（1）耕地是东营市主要的土地利用类型,面积有所减少;未利用地和次生盐碱地所占比重较大,居民点及工矿用地大幅增加,油田生产建设和生态环境保护矛盾非常突出。（2）生态系统服务价值减少了6.68%。2008年东营市提供的生态服务仍然以维护原材料、气体调节、食物生产、气候等为主,而废物处理、水源涵养、生物多样性保护、土壤形成与保护和娱乐文化功能是比较弱的。今后应维护生物多样性保护和水源涵养功能,防止土壤盐渍化,提升区域生态系统服务功能;（3）生态系统服务价值对生态价值系数的敏感性指数均小于1,说明研究区内的生态系统服务价值缺乏弹性,研究结果是可信的。     

广东鹤山林-果-草-鱼复合生态系统生态服务功能价值评估

鹤山丘陵地“林-果-草-鱼”复合农林生态系统是1986年建立在退化丘陵地,利用物质与能量循环流动等生态学原理,进行构建和恢复而成功的实例,本文采用物质量和价值量相结合的评价方法,首次选取复合农林业系统进行评价,首次对广东鹤山林-果-草-鱼复合农林生态系统的生态服务功能进行价值评估。结果表明,广东鹤山林-果-草-鱼复合生态系统总体指标显著优越,其服务价值功能达2397.9783万元,在维持大气平衡、固土保肥、涵养水源等方面具有重要的作用。其间接生态服务功能价值远远大于直接生态服务功能价值,比值约为31∶1。而维持大气平衡服务价值是鹤山林-果-草-鱼复合生态系统的主要部分,占总体服务价值的96.626%,而木材生产等直接经济价值仅占总价值的3.135%。由此,直接经济价值并不是其服务价值的主要部分,应充分发挥鹤山林-果-草-鱼复合生态系统的其他生态服务功能,加强对间接生态服务功能价值的理解和保护,从长远策划和开发土地来达到长远而合理的利益收获。     

兰州市土地利用变化及生态服务价值

以典型河谷型大城市兰州市为例,在RS和GIS技术支持下,剖析了1997-2009年该市各县区土地利用及其变化情况。在此基础上,参考Costanza等生态系统服务价值计算方法和中国陆地生态系统单位面积服务价值表,分析r近12年来研究区土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响及其变化情况。结果表明：1997-2009年兰州市林地增长面积最大,主要来源于耕地的转出及两山绿化,其次为建设用地,主要是对耕地、草地和未利用地的占用;土地利用类型面积减少最大的是耕地,主要转变为林地、草地和建设用地。土地利用变化引起生态系统服务价值及GDP变化,其分别从1997年的59．99亿元,210．27亿元上升到2009年的61．52亿元,920亿元。总体呈增长趋势,表明该区域生态环境整体向良性方向发展。     

基于土地利用的喀斯特地区生态系统服务功能价值评估——以贵州省为例

为探讨喀斯特地区生态系统服务功能价值特征,对贵州省生态系统服务功能价值进行评估,结果表明生态系统服务功能价值在2005、2010、2020年分别为1 610.43亿、2 357.86亿、4 328.89亿元.贵州省各类生态系统服务功能单价顺序为湿地>水体>森林>草地>农田>荒漠,其中湿地生态系统是荒漠生态系统服务功能价值的149.31倍.2005～2020年贵州省生态服务功能价值结构和土地利用结构以森林生态系统占绝对优势,各类型生态系统服务功能价值顺序为森林>农田>草地>水体>荒漠>湿地,各类型生态系统面积大小顺序为森林>农田>荒漠>草地>水体>湿地.2005、2010、2020年贵州省单位面积生态系统服务功能价值分别为9 142、13 385、24 573元/hm2.根据至2020年的土地利用规划,贵州省生态系统服务功能将持续增加.     

Shifting cultivation, forest fallow, and externalities in ecosystem services: Evidence from the Eastern Amazon

This study examines the value of fallow ecosystem services in shifting cultivation, including hydrological externalities that may affect other farms. Using farm-level survey data from the Brazilian Amazon, I estimate a production function to assess the value of forest fallow and test whether it provides local externalities to agricultural production. Soil quality controls, instrumental variables, and spatial econometric approaches help address endogeneity issues. I use GIS data on external forest cover at the farm level and model the hydrological externality as an upstream-to-downstream process. The estimated parameters indicate that fallow contributes significantly to productivity both on farm and downstream. In addition, most farms allocate sufficient land to fallow, accounting for both the value of hydrological spillovers and the opportunity cost of land left out of cultivation. These results suggest that farming communities may have some self-interest in preserving forest cover locally—a finding that may bolster policy efforts aimed at conserving tropical forests for their global public goods.     

Mapping cumulative impacts of mining on sediment retention ecosystem service in an Australian mining region

Mining development can potentially lead to cumulative impacts on ecosystems and their services across a range of scales. Site-specific environmental impact assessments are commonly assessed for mining projects; however, large-scale cumulative impacts of multiple mines that aggregate and interact in resources regions have had little attention in the literature and there are few examples where regional-scale mining impacts have been assessed on ecosystem services. The objective of this study is to quantify regional-scale cumulative impacts of mining on sediment retention ecosystem services. We apply the sediment delivery ratio model of Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs to calculate and map the sediment retention and export using a synthetic catchment model and a real case study under different mining scenarios in an Australian mining region. Two impact indices were created to quantify the cumulative impacts associated with a single mine and the interactions between multiple mines. The indices clarified the magnitude of impacts and the positive/negative impacts associated with regional-scale sediment retention and export. We found cumulative impacts associated with multiple mines’ interaction occurred but the influence of these interactions was relatively weak. This research demonstrated the potential for utilising ecosystem services modelling for the quantitative assessment of the cumulative impacts. Such research provide decision-makers and planners with a tool for sustainable regional and landscape planning that balances the needs of mining and the provision of ecosystem services.     

The multifunctionality of the natural environment through the basic ecosystem services in the Florina region,Greece

Until the last decade, protecting the environment was seen as a factor contributing to human well-being, and conservation of natural ecosystems was considered to be one of the most important factors of environmental protection. Numerous studies have dealt with the benefits of natural ecosystems and in recent years even more so with ecosystem services, as well as interactions of ecosystem services with each other and with the urban and peri-urban environment. This paper suggests an approach to the spatial unity of the Florina region using basic ecosystem services identified by land use. The aim was, first, to describe the spatial distribution of basic ecosystem services and their interactions and, second, to investigate whether they form important statistical correlations with the basic features of the prefecture. A 1 km × 1 km analysis of 10 ecosystem services covering the surface of the prefecture was carried out.     

Oasis land-use change and its effects on the oasis eco-environment in Keriya Oasis,China

Land-use change in oases of arid zones play a significant role in the sustainable development and stability of oases. This paper presents a typical case of successful efforts to mitigate land-use change, its drivers and effects on the oasis eco-environment at Keriya Oasis in the western arid zone of China using remotely-sensed data, official statistics, and data collected by field investigation. Mathematical models were developed to quantify important elements related to land-use change, including net change and total change. The results indicate that: (1) approximately 17% of land-use types of Keriya Oasis changed between 1991 and 2002; (2) socioeconomic development, climate change, and economic polices contributed to land-use change in the oasis; (3) inappropriate human activities were the main cause of land-use change and eco-environmental degradation in the oasis; and (4) the stability of the oasis is threatened by land-use change and unexpected eco-environmental changes in the oasis and oasis–desert ecotone. The study suggests irrational human activity in arid zones, and that caution should be exercised to maintain stability and sustainable development of oases.     

Assessment of ecological risks induced by land use and land cover changes in Xiamen City,China

The landscape ecological risk (LER) in Xiamen City, China, from 1990 to 2030 was studied using an urban land use and land cover change (LUCC) model and LER analysis. The LUCC model was used to predict the LUCC of Xiamen from 2020 to 2030. We analyzed the characteristics of LUCC and landscape pattern changes and, finally, evaluated the effect of rapid LUCC on LER. Of the six landscape types investigated, built-up land and farmland demonstrated the most significant changes. The area of built-up land increased by 1.5 times in 2010 and is predicted to increase by 2.7 times in 2030 than that in 1990. The area of farmland increased from 34.5% in 1990 to 24.5% in 2010 and is predicted to decrease to 15.1% in 2030. The number of patches (NP) of built-up land decreased with increasing area, which promoted the dominance of built-up land over other landscape types. Five landscape types, those other than built-up land, increased in NP, landscape fragmentation, segmentation, and disturbance but decreased in dominance. The LER of Xiamen in 2010 was slightly lower than that in 1990. However, with the acceleration of urbanization, the LER in 2020 and 2030 will increase by 7.6% and 12.5% than that in 2010. The LER will significantly increase in areas such as the Huandong sea area, the second urban core of Xiamen, and northern Xiang'an. For the areas, some measures (e.g. optimum urban spatial growth patterns and control of coastal reclamation) must inevitably increase to reduce the LER posed by rapid urbanization.     

Effect of land use and land cover change on soil erosion and the spatio-temporal variation in Liupan Mountain Region, southern Ningxia, China

The Liupan Mountains are located in the southern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, that forms an important divide between landforms and biogeographic regions. The populated part of the Liupan Mountain Region has suffered tremendous ecological damage over time due to population pressure, excessive demand and inappropriate use of agricultural land resources. To present the relationship between land use/cover change and spatio-temporal variation of soil erosion, data sets of land use between the late 1980s and 2000 were obtained from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery, and spatial models were used to characterize landscape and soil erosion conditions. Also, soil erosion in response to land use and land cover change were quantified and analyzed using data from geographical information systems and remote sensing. Soil erosion by water was the dominant mode of soil loss, while soil erosion by wind was only present on a relatively small area. The degree of soil erosion was classified into five severity classes: slight, light, moderate, severe, and very severe. Soil erosion in the Liupan Mountain Region increased between the late 1980s and 2000, both in terms of acreage and severity. Moderate, severe, and very severe eroded areas accounted for 54.86% of the total land area. The lightly eroded area decreased, while the moderately eroded area increased by 368817 ha (22%) followed by severe erosion with 146552 ha (8.8%), and very severe erosion by 97067.6 ha (5.8%). Soil loss on sloping cropland increased with slope gradients. About 90% of the cropland was located on slopes less than 15°. Most of the increase in soil erosion on cropland was due to conversion of steep slopes to cropland and degradation of grassland and increased activities. Soil erosion was severe on grassland with a moderate or low grass cover and on dry land. Human activities, cultivation on steep slopes, and overgrazing of pastures were the main reasons for the increase in erosion severity.