Coupling Analysis of Ecosystem Services Value and Economic Development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: A Case Study in Hunan Province, China

Abstract

Sound ecosystems are a precondition for the sustainable survival and development of human society. However, ecological deterioration caused by socioeconomic activities can result in increasing pressure on ecosystems. Exploration of the spatial interaction between ecosystem and economic development under the background of high-quality and green development is, therefore, necessary. In this study, we analyzed the spatial interaction between the ecosystem services value (ESV) and economic development with the economic and ecological coupling index method based on high-resolution remote-sensing land-use data and socioeconomic statistical data in Hunan Province from 2000 to 2018. The results revealed that the ESV provided by the ecosystems in Hunan Province decreased by US$1256.166 million from 2000 to 2018. The areas with high ESV per unit area were distributed in the mountainous areas, while the areas with low ESV per unit area were distributed in the major cities and their surroundings. The bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the ESV had significant spatial dependence on the economic development. In addition, the coupling analysis documented that the relationship between the ESV and economic density was mostly in the low conflict and potential crisis states. These results provide important guidance for the coordinated development of the regional economy and ecosystem conservation.

Coupling Coordination Relationship and Driving Mechanism between Urbanization and Ecosystem Service Value in Large Regions: A Case Study of Urban Agglomeration in Yellow River Basin, China

“…This proves that the low conflict and potential crisis are the main relationships between them, and with the development of urbanization, the growth of ESV lags behind the degree of urbanization. The rapid urbanization area occupies a part of the cultivated land area, which has a coercive effect on the fragile environment [8]. Therefore, in the process of urbanization, we should pay attention to the coordination between rational land use and economic society, strengthen the sustainable agriculture and food diversity transformation, improve the resilience of local and global agricultural systems, and promote mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.…”

“…Ecosystem service value (ESV) provides an intuitive perspective from which environmental managers and the public can directly understand the potential benefits of the ecosystem [8]. Costanza used the monetary evaluation method to calculate the global ecological capital and the value of ESs, which greatly promoted the evaluation of global ecosystem services [2].…”

“…Changes in landscape patterns increase human demand for ES, and cause various environmental problems [33]. Many studies have shown that areas with a higher level of urbanization have greater demand for ESs [8]. On the other hand, some scholars in China have found that economic development can improve ecosystem service capabilities through scale effects, optimizing industrial structure and improving environmental awareness and management level [27].…”

“…On the other hand, some scholars in China have found that economic development can improve ecosystem service capabilities through scale effects, optimizing industrial structure and improving environmental awareness and management level [27]. Therefore, in order to promote a coordinated relationship between economic development and ecological protection, it is necessary to analyze the coupling-interaction relationship between the urbanization process and the ecosystem [8,25].…”

Evaluation on the Change Characteristics of Ecosystem Service Function in the Northern Xinjiang Based on Land Use Change

“…Domestic scholars Xie et al [16] refer to Costanza [12] based on the relevant estimation research the classification of ecosystem service functions, and according to the actual situation of the Chinese ecosystem, conducted in-depth studies on different spatial scales, and corrected the ecosystem service value coefficients. Establishing a set of service value coefficients that can be widely used to evaluate ecosystems-such as cities [17], islands [18], and watersheds [19]-further advances the evaluation research process of the value of ecosystem services. In recent years, the unit value of different regions has been calculated based on the value equivalent of basic ecosystem services, and the equivalent correction has been made by comparing grain yield, net profit, NDVI, NPP, precipitation, or soil conservation adjustment with global or national average levels, and corresponding with expert experience.…”