Assessing Tradeoffs and Synergies between Land Use Land Cover Change and Ecosystem Services in River Ecosystem Using InVEST Model

Abstract

Riverine ecosystems supply humans with a variety of ecosystem services (ESs), but anthropogenic activities endanger their availability worldwide. Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of riverine ESs and identifying the primary driving forces behind various ESs are crucial for preserving regional ecological security and achieving ecosystem sustainability. The study examines the spatio-temporal changes from 2000 to 2022 in the Danro River Basin in Jharkhand in four essential Ecosystem Services (ES): Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR), Nutrient Delivery Ratio (NDR), Habitat Quality Monitoring (HQM) and Carbon Storage (CS), using InVEST model, Land Use Dynamics Index and Correspondence analysis. Danro River is a tributary of the Ganges River basin affected by sand mining. Key results were: (1) A rise in soil erosion was observed due to the transformation of agricultural land into urban areas; (2) The phosphorous and nitrogen retention was higher in agricultural land as compared to forest areas; (3) The habitat quality of the Danro River body showed degradation during 2000 to 2020; (4) The study area can sequester 2128304.92 Mg of Carbon; (5) The land use dynamic index (K) indicated that bare ground experienced the greatest impact, with a value of -0.021. The study uncovered complex relationships between ecosystem services and land use changes, emphasizing tradeoffs and synergies and laying stress on the holistic management strategies to balance tradeoffs and leverage synergies. The findings provide valuable insights for decision-making in socio-environmental processes. Other regions missing meteorological, hydrological, and geological data may also benefit from applying the InVEST model with localized parameters.