Spatiotemporal Distribution of Ecosystem Services and Analysis of Cold and Hot Spots in Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Region

Abstract

[Objective] This study was aimed to assess the ecological benefits and ecological impacts after the implementation of the ecological project in the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source area. [Methods] Based on the remote sensing, meteorological, soil, and land use data of the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source area from 2000-2017, the CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach) model, the InVEST (Integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade offs) model, RWEQ (Revised wind erosion equation) model, and RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model, the water yield, soil conservation, carbon sequestration and wind and sand services were estimated respectively. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistical index method was used to identify the ecosystem services hot and cold spots in the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source area. [Results] (1) Each ecosystem service function showed an increasing trend from 2000 to 2017, and the high value areas of the four ecosystem service functions were concentrated in the southeast of the study area, and the low value areas were concentrated in the northwest of the study area. (2) All four ecosystem services showed a significant hotspot area increase in the Ordos Plateau sandy land management area in the southwestern part of the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source from 2000 to 2017; The area of hotspot for carbon sequestration services increased significantly, of which the cold spots in the Hunshandak-Khorqin sand land control area and the hilly mountainous area of the Damshang Plateau in northern North China had transformed into hotspots. The hotspot area of water production service did not change significantly, and the hotspot area was mainly concentrated in the southern part of the study area in the Damshang Plateau and the hilly and mountainous water conservation management area in northern China, and the distribution of the hotspot area is more scattered. The cold spot area of windbreak and sand fixation service had increased in area; The area of the cold spot area of soil conservation service had a small percentage and not much change, and the regional capacity of soil conservation and supply was relatively average. (3) The results of multiple ecosystem services showed that the southeastern region of the study area is able to provide two or more high-value ecosystem service functions and belongs to the key ecosystem service function supply area, accounting for about 15.5% of the whole study area. (4) The four ecosystem service hotspot areas of forest land accounted for a relatively high percentage of the area from 2000 to 2017, and the hotspot areas of carbon sequestration service functions of grassland and forest land increased significantly, and forest land can provide a high level of integrated ecosystem service functions. [Conclusion] The implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source control project has improved the overall ecosystem service function in the region, and the results of the study can provide scientific data for assessing the effectiveness of the restoration of the Beijing-Tianjin wind and sand source control project, and ultimately realizing the sustainable development of the ecological environment in the Beijing-Tianjin region.

Keywords

• ecosystem services
• hot spot analysis
• spatiotemporal differentiation
• beijing-tianjin sandstorm source