Identification of Key Ecological Restoration Areas and Optimal Allocation of Vegetation for Water Conservation in Hanjiang River Basin

Abstract

[Objective] The key ecological restoration areas for water conservation in the Hanjiang River basin were identified, and the allocation of vegetation was optimized, and to verify the effects of ecological restoration was verified in order to provide a scientific basis for the implementation of ecological restoration projects. [Methods] The InVEST model was used to estimate the water conservation amount in 2020, and the key ecological restoration areas were identified according to the strength of the water conservation function. The ecological restoration scope was defined as the area with forest land, shrub forest, grassland, unused land, and cultivated land with slopes greater than 25° in the weak water conservation function area. A forest land suitability evaluation was carried out at the restoration area. The optimal configuration between land cover types was simulated, and the water conservation function of the restoration area after the configuration and completed was compared with the water conservation function before the configuration. [Results] Water production in the restoration area decreased by 6.97% after the optimal allocation of vegetation, and the total amount of water conservation increased by 14.96%. [Conclusion] The Hanjiang River basin has potential to improve water conservation by means of vegetation optimization allocation. In the future, the restoration area of the Hanjiang River basin should be identified by considering other ecological service functions on the basis of water conservation, and more comprehensive restoration measures should be taken to solve the ecological problems of the Hanjiang River basin.

Keywords

• water conservation function
• invest model
• identification for ecological remediation
• optimal allocation of vegetation
• hanjiang river basin