What Is Left for Our Next Generation? Integrating Ecosystem Services into Regional Policy Planning in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China

Abstract

Land use/Land cover (LULC) changes as a result of policy planning influence ecosystem structures, processes, and functions, which are the basis for providing a wide range of ecosystem services (ES). There is an increasing consensus about the importance of integrating ES into ecological policy but quantifying the potential impacts of different policy on ES has proven difficult. We designed a remote sensing, geographic information system and scenario analysis-based approach to estimate and analyze the relationship between ES (soil conservation and carbon sequestration) and ecological policy designed to improve human welfare in the Chongqing municipality in the upper reaches of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China; a densely populated, highly modified watershed with serious soil erosion and flood hazard. Three alternative scenarios in 2050 were modeled for the Three Gorges Reservoir Area watershed. The model GEOMOD was used to predict future LULC changes due to policy planning. The ES models (Universal Soil Loss Equation model and Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach model) were designed to inform decisions, with an aim to align economic forces with conservation. We examine policy effectiveness by comparing scenarios for 2050 (Scenario1: Maintain current policy with no considerations of ES; Scenario2: Integrate ES into policy planning; Scenario3: Integrate ES into policy planning in view of the need of local people). Scenario-based LULC change analysis revealed that if the current afforestation policy continues (scenario 1), total ES would be further increased in 2050 due to expansion of forest cover. However, by targeting policy to improve ES provision (scenarios 2 and 3), ecological risks of soil loss can be significantly reduced and carbon sequestration enhanced. Scenario 3, thus, provided the best future environmental development scenario considering the need of local people in each region for ES. This scenario will theoretically help the Three Gorges Dam to harvest more ecological benefits through improvements in soil conservation and carbon sequestration. This study highlights the observation that including ES in policy planning and has a great potential to generate opportunities to maximize ES. This study highlights that including ES in policy planning has a great potential to generate opportunities to maximize ES. Hence, there is a need to encourage proper implementation of ecological policy to maintain and improve ES.

The Impact of Urban Development Intensity on Ecological Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of Ecologically Fragile Areas

“…The spatial distribution of ECC is also affected by social and economic factors [ 30 , 32 ]. In 2008, the National Council released the National Ecological Function Zoning, identifying the Three Gorges Reservoir Area as one of 25 key ecological function areas [ 42 ]. Then, in 2013, the Chongqing municipal government issued the Ecological Conservation Function Zone Planning, mentioning the important role of the Three Gorges Reservoir area (Chongqing section) in maintaining the overall ecological quality [ 42 ].…”

“…According to the National Plan for the Protection of Ecologically Fragile Areas issued in 2008 [ 42 ], the Three Gorges Reservoir area (Chongqing section) is located in the southwest karst rocky desertification ecologically fragile area. It is often affected by various natural disasters, such as debris flow, soil erosion, etc.…”

“…By the end of 2009, the Three Gorges Project was completed, and the Resettlement Project in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing section) smoothly came to an end [ 42 ]. The Resettlement Project led to rapid urbanization in this area and caused some problems for the environment.…”

“…[ 39 ]. At present, research on the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing Section) mainly focuses on the evaluation of environmental sensitivity [ 6 ], landscape change [ 41 ], and ecosystem services in the area [ 42 ], with less attention paid to an analysis of the relationship between urban development and the environment. However, urban development in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing section) also encounters challenges faced by other cities in ecologically fragile areas.…”

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

“…The elevation is high in the east and low in the west. The dominant soil types are Ultlsols based on USDA soil taxonomy (Xiao et al, 2019a). The region has a subtropical monsoon climate.…”