Ecological Indicators (Feb 2024)
Trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in karst multi-mountainous cities
Abstract
Clarifying spatiotemporal changes in ecosystem services (ESs) and understanding the trade-offs and synergies among different services are crucial for effective ES management and regional sustainable development. In karst multi-mountainous cities (KMCs), the unique landscape pattern, fragile ecological environment, and intense human disturbance contribute to accelerated rocky desertification and degradation of ESs. Studying ES trade-offs and synergies provides scientific guidance for formulating ecological management policies, enhancing ES value, and mitigating rocky desertification in KMCs. Therefore, this study analyzes four ESs — habitat quality (HQ), carbon storage (CS), water production (WP), and soil retention (SR) — using remote sensing images from 2008, 2013, and 2018 in a typical KMC, aiming to reveal trade-offs and synergies and investigate driving factors. The key findings are as follows: 1) High HQ and CS values were scattered in patches throughout the study area, mainly within the Urban Remnant Mountain (URM) and woodland, but fragmented by construction land. SR and WP initially increase and then decreased, especially in bareland. WP-HQ and WP-SR, exhibited tradeoffs, while WP-CS and CS-HQ demonstrated synergies. No significant trade-off or synergy relationships are observed between HQ-SR and CS-SR. 2) URMs, a significant biological patch within KMCs’ built-up area, exhibited the highest degree of trade-off/synergy, accounting for 32%. When considering only the synergy degree, URMs accounted for 37%. To improve overall ES advantages in KMCs, greater design consideration and preservation of URMs are essential. 3) Both environmental and socio-economic factors influence ES trade-offs and synergies, with environmental factors playing a dominant role. Future green space planning should consider road layout, land use policies, and soil factors. The results can guide land use policies and urban development in other KMCs.
