A Study on Forest Species Diversity and Its Ecological Service Function in the Plateau Area of Western Sichuan

This paper presents a study on species diversity and its ecological service function in the plateau area in western Sichuan. The results show that species diversity in the plantations on the cutover land has a tendency to increase and that its ecological service function is to be improved with stand age growing. The species diversity in forest communities is also gradually increased on different succession stage till reaching a climax level. But the species diversity in the climax community is slightly decreased before it reaches a relatively constant status. Ecological service function of diversity is gradually strengthened with the progress of succession. In addition, species diversity in a stand in a similar site and at a same age differs among forest types. Species diversity index within a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest is larger than that within a coniferous forest. Meanwhile, species diversity enriches as the tree density increases.

An integrated approach to evaluation on ecological service functions for urban green space and its application

This methodological investigation deals with measurement and valuation of ecological service functions for urban green space. Social, economic and ecological dimensions for such types of function were analyzed and a concept “integrated ecological service functions” (IESF) was put forward for evaluation. Based upon this conceptual approach, an index system for measuring IESF for urban green space was established. With a methodological integration of fuzzy mathematics, decision making analysis and Delphi method, an AHP fuzzy evaluation techniques for IESF for urban green space, called AFIFUG method, was developed. Such a method has been directly applied to the land use strategic planning of Tianjin out ring green belt(TOGB), and its analysis results have been successfully put into operation.

Thoughts and Practice of Ecological Protection and Restoration of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Farmlands, Lakes and Grasslands

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stated that it was necessary to establish and practice the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,treat the ecological environment as life,and coordinate the management of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes and grasslands.In recent years,China has organized a series of pilot projects for the ecological protection and restoration of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes and grasslands,breaking the boundary between administrative divisions,departmental management and ecological elements,and implementing conservation and restoration oriented towards the improvement of ecosystem services,so as to solve the problem of the lack of overall planning for ecological protection and restoration projects and the separated management of ecological elements.This study systematically elaborated the theoretical basis and connotation characteristics of ecological protection and restoration of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes and grasslands.It proposed the implementation path of ecological protection and restoration project of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes and grasslands by taking the water source conservation area of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei as a case,so as to provide reference for the implementation and decision-making management of ecological protection and restoration projects in various regions.

Measuring economic loss caused by ecological damages: a case study of China's forest ecosystem in 2005

At present about 60% of ecosystem has been damaged and degraded severely, resulting in enormous ecological loss globally. The essential cause is the irrational utilization of ecosystem by humankind, so it is tire key to changing improper environmental performance of humankind so as to prevent ecosystem from being damaged The quantitative valuation on the loss of ecological damage is an effective tool to guide human eco-environmental performance. In this paper, the concepts related to the valuation on ecological damage cost are introduced,＂ uncertainties that might arise in the valuation on the loss of ecological damage such as area coverage of valuation, ecological damage quantity, borders of ecological damage cost and data support are analyzed and the valuation approaches for the loss of ecological damage are also discussed As a case study, the economic losses of ecological damage of forest in 2005 in China are valuated.

Soil Conservation of National Key Ecological Function Areas

Soil erosion is a significant factor in the deterioration of the ecological environment and soil conservation is an important ecological service of National Key Ecological Function Areas in China. Here, climate, terrain, soil and vegetation cover, soil erosion and soil conservation spatial data in 25 National Key Ecological Function Areas in 2010 were analyzed using the Universal Soil Loss Equation by Arc GIS tool. We found that soil conservation effects due to vegetation cover and soil conservation measures are obvious and that micro and slight erosion areas in National Key Ecological Function Areas have increased by 26.2%. The area of intensive erosion decreased by 25.1%, and the soil conservation amount in southern National Key Ecological Function Areas is high. The conservation amount of soil nutrients within National Key Ecological Function Areas is related to amount of soil conservation and content of each nutrient element in soil. The sequence of nutrient conservation amounts from high to low is soil organic carbon, total K, total N and total P in soil. The conservation amount of various soil nutrient elements in the Alkin Grassland function area and Yunnan and Sichuan function area was highest. Based on our findings, we recommend the strengthening of vegetation protection and management in the areas with high per unit area soil erosion, enhancement of vegetation cover and improvement of soil conservation measures in order to improve soil conservation functions and reduce soil nutrient losses. Vegetation protection and soil conservation measures should be consolidated in the areas with high potential erosion to prevent further deterioration.

中国重要农业文化遗产的空间分布特征及其差异性管理策略

Climate change and rapid urbanization pose significant challenges to the conservation and management of agricultural heritage systems,including decline in agricultural land,loss of labor,and ecosystem degradation.Although existing studies have proposed general strategies with theoretical guidance and specific strategies for particular systems to promote the conservation of agricultural heritage systems,there remains a large knowledge gap in effective and differentiated management strategies at the regional level.This is especially so in China because of the clear regional differences in the natural and socioeconomic conditions of the widely distributed China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(China-NIAHS).In this study,we integrated multi-source data and spatial analysis to reveal the distribution characteristics of existing China-NIAHS and proposed differentiated management strategies.Results show that there are four clustering distribution zones of China-NIAHS,i.e.,the northwest clustering zone west of the Heihe-Tengchong Line(ZoneⅠ),the clustering belt with‘Northeast-Hebei-Shandong'as core(ZoneⅡ),the Yangtze River Delta clustering zone(ZoneⅢ),and the Hunan-Chongqing-Yunnan-Guizhou clustering zone(ZoneⅣ).Different management strategies are proposed for the China-NIAHS in each clustering zone.Specifically,ZoneⅠshould focus on maintaining their ecological functions and services,while ZoneⅡshould aim for livelihood supply,sustainable resource use,and ecological protection.For ZoneⅢ,rapid urbanization could become a positive driving force for China-NIAHS conservation through sustainable tourism and reasonable urban zoning.ZoneⅣshould emphasize the mutual support between characteristic product development and the brand effect of the China-NIAHS.These findings will help establish regional and targeted management strategies for China-NIAHS and provide a reference for the conservation of agricultural heritage systems in other countries.

Evaluation of ecosystem service of straw return to soil in a wheat field of China

Crop straw is an important natural resource in China because it is rich in nutrients.When returned to fields after harvests,the straw can improve soil quality and the next crop’s yield.Evaluating the economic values of the main ecological services of a farmland ecosystem while implementing the straw return technique can be a more systematic and comprehensive approach to better understand the contribution of straw return to the development of ecological agriculture.Based on the data of a field experiment established in 2010 with varying numbers of years of straw return,four ecological services,i.e.,agricultural product and industrial raw materials,atmospheric regulation and purification,soil nutrient accumulation,and water conservation,were selected to estimate a net ecosystem service value(ESV)of a wheat field’s ecosystem services.Agro-ecosystem service appraisal theories were applied to estimate the economic value of each service.Results showed that straw returning improved the total ESV in the wheat system.Compared to the no straw return treatment,1 year,3 years,5 years or 7 years of straw returning altered the economic value of the agricultural product and industrial raw materials(EVAIM)by-5.93%to 7.84%and improved atmospheric regulation(EVAR)by 13.66%-30.80%,soil nutrient accumulation(EVSNA)by 59.87%-233.31%and water conservation(EVWC)by 2.60%-13.26%.The total ESV of wheat plots with 1-7 years of straw returning was 3.67%-27.41%higher than that with no straw return,and the total ESV increased with the increase in years of straw return.The proportion of EVAIM out of the total ESV in this wheat field system was highest(accounted for 47.09%-55.64%),followed by EVAR and EVWC.The value of EVSNA was the lowest.However,the proportion of EVSNA was higher than that of water conservation after the fifth year of straw return.In general,the adoption of continuous straw returning in a wheat field ecosystem is ecologically valuable.The results can inform the development and implementation of ecological compensation policies involving straw return.

Ecosystem assessment and protection effectiveness of a tropical rainforest region in Hainan Island, China

Ecosystem services have become one of the core elements of ecosystem management and evaluation. As a key area of ecosystem services and for maintaining national ecological security, ecosystem changes and implementation effect evaluation are important in national key ecological function zones, for promoting the main function zone strategy and for improving the construction of an ecological civilization. This article studies the ecological zone of a tropical rainforest region in the central mountain area of Hainan Island, China. Multi-source satellite data and ground observation statistics are analyzed with geo-statistics method and ecological assessment model. The core analysis of this paper includes ecosystem patterns, quality and services. By means of spatial and temporal scale expansion and multidimensional space-time correlation analysis, the trends and stability characteristics of ecosystem changes are analyzed, and implementation effect evaluation is discussed. The analysis shows a variety of results. The proportion of forest area inside the ecological zone was significantly higher than the average level in Hainan Island. During 1990–2013, settlement gradually increased inside the ecological zone. After implementation of the zone in 2010, human activity intensity increased, with the main land use being urban construction and land reclamation. Water conservation in the ecological function zone was higher than that outside the zone. In general, it increased slightly, but had obvious fluctuations. Soil conservation inside the zone was also better than that outside. However, it demonstrated dramatic fluctuations and relatively poor stability during 1990–2013. The human disturbance index inside the zone was significantly lower than that outside, and had a lower biodiversity threat level. Especially in 2010–2013, the increased range of the human disturbance index inside the zone was significantly less than that outside.