Water Resource Effectiveness of Vegetation Conservation and Restoration in North China

Abstract

In recent years, a series of ecological protection and restoration projects has been implemented in North China, and the vegetation conditions have changed significantly. Exploring the impact of regional vegetation restoration on the water circulation process and the balance of water supply and demand is important for improving ecological restoration strategies and realizing the sustainable utilization of regional water resources. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient and Moran’s I index and based on multi-source water covariate data. The spatial and temporal variation of vegetation and different water covariates is analyzed, the water resource effects of vegetation conservation and restoration are identified, and the tradeoff between water resources and vegetation restoration is discussed. The results show that the effects of ecological protection and restoration projects are remarkable, with the net primary productivity increasing at a rate of approximately 2.3 times faster than that outside the project area; the vegetation expansion and evapotranspiration show strong spatial and temporal correlations; and the increase in evapotranspiration owing to vegetation restoration is the main reason for the deficit or significant reduction in water storage. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the implementation strategy of ecological restoration while considering the restriction of water resources on vegetation conservation and restoration, strengthen the dominant position of the ecosystem’s own resilience, and promote the sustainability of vegetation restoration and the sustainable use of regional water esources.

Keywords

• North China
• ecological restoration projects
• evapotranspiration
• water storage
• net primary productivity
• atural restoration