Modeling hydrological ecosystem services and tradeoffs: a case study in Baiyangdian watershed, China

Abstract

Policy makers and scientists consider that land use strategies are designed to provide direct benefits to people by protecting vital ecosystem services. However, due to lack of information and evaluation methods, there is no effective and systematic tool for assessing tradeoffs between direct human benefits and ecosystem services. Land use changes influence ecosystem properties, processes and components, which are the basis for providing services. Five alternative land use scenarios (no conversion of agricultural lands, no urban expansion, agricultural expansion, forestry expansion, and riparian reforestation) were modeled for the Baiyangdian watershed, China, a densely populated, highly modified watershed with serious water shortage and pollution problems. The model InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) is designed to inform decisions about natural resource management, with an aim to align economic forces with conservation. Three ecosystem services (agricultural production, hydropower production, and water quality) were modeled to balance direct benefits and hydrological ecosystem services using InVEST. The results showed that: hydropower production was the greatest in the forestry expansion, but the lowest in agricultural expansion; agricultural production was reduced the most in forestry expansion, while retained the most in riparian reforestation. Riparian reforestation also provided the highest N and P retention and lowest N and P exportation. Riparian reforestation was the optimal land use strategy, since it protected and enhanced the vital ecosystem services without undermining direct human benefits. This research presents an initial analytical framework for integrating direct human benefits and ecosystem services in policy planning and illustrates its application. Although there are important potential tradeoffs between ecosystem services, this systematic planning framework offers a means for identifying valuable synergies between conservation and development.

Ecosystem services and biodiversity trends in Mozambique as a consequence of land cover change

“…Therefore, and considering the data availability, the selected ES indicators for modeling included water yield, water quality, sediment retention, carbon storage, and biodiversity. These indicators have been used successfully in other studies (Bhagabati et al 2012;Bai et al 2013;Leh et al 2013;Cabral et al 2016). Table 2 shows the ES and respective ES indicators (units) used in the current study.…”

“…However, their ability to support mankind is being threatened by the increasing demand of land for agriculture, forest, industrial, and urban areas (Halpern et al 2008;Kareiva et al 2011). Considerable efforts have been carried out to draw attention to the importance of preserving natural capital, and also to providing useful information for decision-making through biophysical (Bai et al 2013;Leh et al 2013) and economic valuation studies of ES (Kubiszewski et al 2013;Frélichová et al 2014;Jacobs et al 2016;Kindu et al 2016). ES mapping tools and quantitative biophysical and economic indicators make ES values visible thereby helping to assess the trade-offs associated with these interactions Polasky 2009, 2011;Maes et al 2012;Burkhard et al 2013).…”

Impacts of land management on ecosystem service delivery in the Baiyangdian river basin

“…Lake Baiyangdian provides a diversity of ecosystem services that are important for sustaining human livelihoods and socio-economic development (Bai et al 2011(Bai et al , 2013.…”

“…The mountainous area is mainly covered with forest and grassland, while the plain area is mainly covered with arable land. Meteorological data collected over the past 50 years at meteorological stations within, or adjacent to, the upstream watershed area indicate the following climate conditions: mean annual temperature range 6.8-12.7°C, mean annual precipitation 548 mm and mean annual pan evaporation range 1500-2000 mm (Bai et al 2013). The human population density in the Baiyangdian river basin is higher than the average for the whole of China, with more than 448 individuals km -2 (Bai et al 2011).…”

Ecosystem services of human-dominated watersheds and land use influences: a case study from the Dianchi Lake watershed in China

“…Because of their geographical, hydrological, and ecological characters, watersheds provide critical water-related services, such as water yield, water purification, and water regulation. Researchers have therefore devoted significant attention to these services (Bräuer 2005;Jujnovsky et al 2012;Notter et al 2012;Leh et al 2013;Bai et al 2013a). Other investigated ecosystem services produced by watersheds include carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity, soil conservation, pollination, commodity production, storm peak management, erosion control, and cultural services (Nelson et al 2009;Reyers et al 2009;Wang et al 2009;Bai et al 2011;Bagstad et al 2012;Leh et al 2013;Bai et al 2013b).…”