Effects of Ecological Restoration Measures on Soil Erosion Risk in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Since the 1980s

Abstract

Ecosystem degradation accompanied by soil erosion risk is caused by the interaction of many factors, including climate change and human activities. Therefore, before attempting the optimal form of ecological restoration, we must know the key factors responsible for soil erosion risk and determine their impacts on the ecosystem health. To test this approach, we conducted a case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area from 1980 to 2015, where extensive restoration (primarily afforestation) has been conducted. The results showed Climate was most important during Period I (1980 to 1984), and explained 84% of the variation in erosion. However, vegetation became equally important during Period II (1985 to 2006), when it accounted for 51% of the variation. Climate became as important as vegetation during Period III (2007 to 2015), when it accounted for 51% of the variation. The temporal variation in the dominant factors that controlled soil erosion risk suggests that the ecological effect of vegetation improvement resulting from ecological restoration in Three Gorges Reservoir Area has been gradually enhanced since 1980s.

Temporal and spatial analysis of the ecosystem service values in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China based on land use change

“…The Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) is a typical ecologically fragile area in China (Huang et al 2019;Zhang et al 2020b), and it is an ecological barrier area of strategic significance in the Yangtze River Basin (Li et al 2019b). As the world's largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Project has affected the ecosystem of the TGRA (Yuan et al 2013;Zheng 2016), including such features as soil erosion (Huang et al 2020;Xiao et al 2020), water quality (Holbach et al 2013;Li et al 2019a, c;Xiang et al 2021) and biodiversity (Wu et al 2003), as a result, it has attracted widespread attention from ecologists worldwide. With the rapid economic development in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the construction and impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam, the land use pattern in the reservoir has changed greatly, and the ESV closely related to it has been altered.…”

Land use changes in Zhangjiakou from 2005 to 2025 and the importance of ecosystem services

“…Policymakers contemplating financial incentives to increase the flow of sustainable ecosystem services should consider what incentives may effectively achieve policy objectives (Xiao, Xiao & Xiong Q. Yang, 2020). Effective policies and programs must be scientifically appropriate, and require long-term support from those affected by the policies.…”

Comparative Study on Temperature Response of Hydropower Development in the Dry‐Hot Valley

“…Therefore, the operation mode of the reservoir should be adjusted to account for local climate conditions. These operational changes should minimize the environmental damage that occurs at hydropower stations in non-dry-hot valleys during the dry season (Olden & Naiman, 2010;Xiao et al, 2020). Accounting for the local climatic conditions in the design and operation of these reservoirs will help to maintain the safety and stability of the ecological environment in these areas.…”