Impacts of land use change on ecosystem service value in Bashang Area of Hebei Province, northern China

ObjectiveBy quantitatively studying the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of ecosystem service value under the background of land use, this paper aims to correctly understand the response mechanism of different ecosystem service functions to land use change, and provide a scientific basis for the optimization of land use pattern and coordinated development of ecological economy in the Bashang Area, Hebei Province of northern China.

MethodTaking Zhangbei, Guyuan and Fengning counties as research objects, this paper uses mathematical model to analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of land use since 2000. Based on this, the ecosystem service value was evaluated by the estimation method of land ecosystem service value, and its response to land use change was analyzed. Then the coordination of ecological and economic development in the Bashang Area was explored.

ResultThe results showed that: (1) during the study period, the built-up land in the Bashang Area increased by 24 km², while wetland and grassland reduced by 28 and 26 km², respectively. The reduced grasslands and wetlands were mainly converted into farmland, and the increase in built-up land mainly comes from farmland and wetlands. (2) Land use change led to the change of ecological environment in the research area and influenced the ecosystem service value. The ecosystem service value in the Bashang Area is generally high in the west and low in the east. The low value area is mainly located in the western part of Zhangbei, and the high value area is located in the Yanshan forest in the south of Fengning. In the past 15 years, the ecosystem services value in 85.92% of the Bashang Area had been increased, with a total increase of 33.483 billion RMB. Among them, the value of climate regulation services increased the most, increasing by 9.044 billion RMB, while soil conservation, hydrological regulation and water supply value both rose first and then decreased; the ecosystem service value was mainly provided by the grassland, forestland, and wetland, and their contribution rate was over 85%, which had the greatest impact on the value of ecosystem services in the Bashang Area. (3) Although the per capita ecosystem service value has gradually increased in the Bashang area, the eco-economic coordination degree was 0.09. This shows that the ecological economic system in the Bashang area is potentially dangerous.

ConclusionsThe ecosystem service value in the Bashang Area has gradually increased, but the grassland and wetland playing an important role in the ecological service function have been degraded. The economic development is still constrained by ecological pressure, and the ecological environment is still fragile.