Spatiotemporal change of beneficiary area from wind erosion prevention service in the Ulan Buh Desert in 2008 and 2018

The Ulan Buh Desert is one of the eight deserts in China that provides wind erosion prevention service(i.e.,the ecosystem;vegetation,production,and construction activities that promote sand fixation).It is significant for the construction of the national ecological barrier,and the protection of the ecological security in the Yellow River and North China.In this study,we selected two representative years(2008 and 2018)and quantified wind erosion prevention service from the Ulan Buh Desert using the RWEQ model.Meanwhile,the HYSPLIT model was used to simulate the spatial flow process from the service supply area to the beneficiary area and to determine its scope.The specific dust reduction amount in the beneficiary area was then calculated.The energy and the time-space relation of wind erosion prevention service in the areas that receive benefits from Ulan Buh Desert were compared before and after implementing environmental restoration measures.The results showed that:(1)the total amount of wind erosion prevention in the Ulan Buh Desert in 2018 was 2.12×10^(10)kg,which was 5.17 times higher than that in 2008;(2)in 2018,the distribution density of the flow path of wind erosion prevention service was lower than that in 2008,and the flow paths in each year were concentrated in the beneficiary areas with the path distribution frequency of less than 10%;(3)the total dust reduction in the downwind area of the Ulan Buh Desert in 2018 was higher than that in 2008,totaling 15.54 million tons.Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shanxi Province had the most significant amount of dust reduction.

Trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services in Yutian County along the Keriya River Basin,Northwest China

The Keriya River Basin is located in an extremely arid climate zone on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin of Northwest China,exhibiting typical mountain-oasis-desert distribution characteristics.In recent decades,climate change and human activities have exerted significant impacts on the service functions of watershed ecosystems.However,the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services(ESs)have not been thoroughly examined.This study aims to reveal the spatiotemporal changes in ESs within the Keriya River Basin from 1995 to 2020 as well as the trade-offs and synergies between ESs.Leveraging the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)and Revised Wind Erosion Equation(RWEQ)using land use/land cover(LULC),climate,vegetation,soil,and hydrological data,we quantified the spatiotemporal changes in the five principal ESs(carbon storage,water yield,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality)of the watershed from 1995 to 2020.Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze the trade-offs and synergies between ES pairs.The findings reveal that water yield,carbon storage,and habitat quality exhibited relatively high levels in the upstream,while food production and wind and sand prevention dominated the midstream and downstream,respectively.Furthermore,carbon storage,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality demonstrated an increase at the watershed scale while water yield exhibited a decline from 1995 to 2020.Specifically,carbon storage,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality presented an upward trend in the upstream but downward trend in the midstream and downstream.Food production in the midstream showed a continuously increasing trend during the study period.Trade-off relationships were identified between water yield and wind and sand prevention,water yield and carbon storage,food production and water yield,and habitat quality and wind and sand prevention.Prominent temporal and spatial synergistic relationships were observed between different ESs,notably between carbon storage and habitat quality,carbon storage and food production,food production and wind and sand prevention,and food production and habitat quality.Water resources emerged as a decisive factor for the sustainable development of the basin,thus highlighting the intricate trade-offs and synergies between water yield and the other four services,particularly the relationship with food production,which warrants further attention.This research is of great significance for the protection and sustainable development of river basins in arid areas.

Discussion on the Problems of Preventing and Controlling Desertification in Forestry Ecological Protection in Shandong Province

Based on years of production practice experience, the technical measures for wind prevention and sand fixation were put forward from the causes and evolu-tion laws of sand wind, which were of great realistic significance to improve the sand prevention work in Shandong.

Effect of mangrove forest on coastal hazards reduction

In recent years,natural disasters in coastal areas have become more frequent due to sea level rise and other impact factors under the scenario of global warming,causing great losses to human society.Mangrove forest,an important shelterbelt in coastal areas,plays an extremely important role in reducing the coastal hazards risk.In this paper,the effects of mangrove ecosystem on coastal hazards reduction are reviewed from the aspects of wind prevention,wave attenuation,sedimentation acceleration,tsunamis mitigation,and provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the protection and cultivation of mangrove forests.

Evaluation of Inner Mongolia Wind Erosion Prevention Service based on Land Use and the RWEQ Model

Inner Mongolia is the important ecological barrier zone in northern China,which plays an important role in the prevention and control of wind in the regional ecosystem.Based on the Revised Wind Erosion Equation(RWEQ)model and the cost-recovery method,this study simulated the wind erosion prevention service(WEPS)in Inner Mongolia in 2010 and 2015,investigated the spatial pattern of material and monetary value of WEPS,and analyzed the differences among various cities and various ecosystems.The results indicated that the total WEPS of Inner Mongolia was estimated to be 73.87×10^(8) t in 2015,which was 4.61×10^(8) t less than in 2010,while the monetary value of WEPS was calculated to be 738.66×10^(8) yuan in 2015,which was 46.16×10^(8) yuan less than in 2010.Among all the leagues and cities,Xilin Gol League supported the highest WEPS,reaching 18.65×10^(8) t in 2015,while Wuhai provided the lowest.The WEPS of Hulunbeier increased the most,by 4.37×10^(8) t from 2010 to 2015.The WEPS in the grassland ecosystem was the highest among the different ecosystems,accounting for more than55%of the total WEPS in Inner Mongolia,but it was reduced by 1.05×10^(8) t during the same period.The WEPS in the forest ecosystem increased the most,reaching 0.19×10^(8) t.This study found that the implementation of projects such as returning farmland to forests and grasses and sand control effectively increased the WEPS by increasing the forest area.However,unsuitable land use increased the desertification of ecosystems which resulted in a reduction of WEPS in Inner Mongolia.