Ecological Restoration and Zonal Management of Degraded Grassland Based on Cost–Benefit Analysis: A Case Study in Qinghai, China

Abstract

The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has the largest area of natural grassland in China, and continuous grassland degradation poses a serious threat to regional ecological security and sustainable resource management. It is essential to comprehensively evaluate the cost–benefit differences and drivers of grassland degradation across various zones to enhance sustainable management practices. This study presents a zonal management framework for the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands based on cost–benefit analysis, specifically applied to Qinghai in the Northeastern QTP. The results indicate: (1) Although the overall NDVI of grasslands shows an upward trend, some areas still exhibit significant degradation. (2) Cost–benefit analysis can divide degraded grasslands into four types of Ecological Management Zones (EMZs): high-cost–high-benefit zone, high-cost–low-benefit zone, low-cost–low-benefit zone, and low-cost–high-benefit zone. (3) The driving factors of grassland degradation show significant differences in different EMZs. Based on these research findings, differentiated spatial planning and management strategies for grassland ecological restoration were developed for each EMZ. This study not only provides a scientific methodology for grassland ecological restoration but also offers important insights for the sustainable management of grassland resources in the QTP and other ecologically sensitive areas.