Changes in Ecosystem Service Values of Forests in Southwest China’s Karst Regions from 2001–2020

Abstract

Forests, serving as crucial custodians of our planet’s ecological balance, also constitute a significant source of livelihood for humanity. Karst regions, recognized as some of the world’s most susceptible landscapes, grapple with the dual predicaments of ecological restoration and resident impoverishment. To bridge the gap between environmental and economic concerns, this manuscript employs an amalgamation of remote sensing and socio-economic methodologies to devise a comprehensive assessment framework, thereby scrutinizing the alterations in forest ecosystems from 2001 to 2020.The investigation reveals that over the past two decades, forest rehabilitation within the study area has yielded commendable outcomes, substantially mitigating various ecological dilemmas instigated by rocky desertification in this region. The forested area has increased significantly, and the ecosystem service value has more than doubled. These improvements are largely attributed to compulsory forest conservation measures, demonstrating their decisive influence. The study advocates meticulous management and conservation strategies to safeguard these unique ecosystems and ensure their sustainability. This research underscores the significance of striking a balance between maintaining ecological integrity and fostering economic development, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable forest management in vulnerable landscapes.

A New Advance on the Improvement of Forest Ecosystem Functions in the Karst Desertification Control

“…In summary, the sustainable economic development model of promoting ecological industrialization and industrial ecology in karst areas not only effectively helps to identify the functions of agricultural and forest ecosystems, but also greatly mitigates the livelihood problems experienced by farmers and diminishes the contradiction between people and land. The evaluation of forest ecosystem service value for karst desertification control is currently in the development stage [14]. However, there are still many limitations in terms of the evaluation system, methods, and accuracy, such as significant differences in altitude, slope, and climate conditions in the study area.…”

“…The traditional evaluation protocol is to calculate the static value based on the equivalent factor method [13], but the trend of large-scale time changes is still unclear. With scientific technological innovation and the combination of remote sensing technology and socio-economic data, a comprehensive evaluation framework was designed to accurately analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of forest ecosystem service value and the response of land use in the past 20 years [14]. This indicates that the driving factors are land use changes caused by returning farmland to forests, immigration and relocation, and artificial intervention, effectively alleviating the contradiction between forest ecosystem functions and human survival and development.…”