Analysis on Ecological Benefits of Urban Wetlands and Protection Measures with a Case of Nansha Wetland

Nansha wetland plays a crucial role in ecological balance of the Pearl River Delta or even Guangzhou. The research, based on researches available, analyzed ecological benefits of Nansha wetland and proposed protection measures in order to better protect urban wetlands and achieve sustainable development of ecological resources of Nansha wetland.

A Comparative Study on Pattern of Urban Forest Patch and Its Ecological Benefit Evaluation in the Park of Hefei Based on the GIS Technology

Based on the GIS technology, CITYgreen computer model was used in this paper to estimate ecological benefits of urban forest in the park of Hefei city.It used this technology to make an analysis on urban forest ecological benefits. The research discussed how to use the technology of CITYgreen model developed in USA to account urban forest benefits in China. The results showed that forests in Xiaoyao Jin Park occupied about 52.62% of park land area and Xinghua Park13.00% respectively, indicating that Xiaoyaojin Park is dominated by large trees such as arbors, and Xinghua Park dominated by laws, with low coverage. Besides,the comprehensive eco-benefits of Xiaoyaojin Park and Xinghua Park were 5.150 3and 1.354 3 million yuan and per unit area eco-benefits were 144 000 and 47 400yuan/hm^2, which indicated that Xiaoyaojin Park makes the greatest contribution in ecological benefits.

Ecosystem Health and Comprehensive Ecological Benefit Assessment of an Artificial Wetland in Western Jilin Province

[Objective] This research aimed to assess the state of ecosystem health and comprehensive ecological benefit of an artificial wetland in western Jilin Province. [Method] To investigate the effects of reclaimed water from Yingtai Oil Production Plant on the wetland ecosystem, a comprehensive ecological assessment index of an artificial wetland in the west of Jilin Province was established to measure the ecological economic and social benefits. The quantitative evaluation on the ecosystem health and comprehensive ecological benefit of the artificial wetland were carried out from 2003 to 2010 and were measured by means of the square difference method. [Result] After eight years of irrigation by reclaimed water, the levels of ecosystem health and benefit of the artificial wetland improved from Grade IV to Grade II, and the ecological environment, economic and social development of the wetland tended to improve. [Conclusion] The results indicated that the use of reclaimed water for irrigation of wetland ecosystems was a suitable way to control drought in arid and semi-arid regions.

Evaluation method of the ecological benefits of urban green spaces and application conditions

The importance of ecological benefit analyses about green space systems has been widely discussed on the basis of a perceived bias towards the landscaping effect of green spaces to be built in urban areas as opposed to the perception of comprehensive ecological benefits of designed plant communities. Given the basic principle of ecological benefit analyses and evaluation methods widely applied today, the methodology to calculate ecological benefits and to model the expansion of urban green spaces by CITY- green 5.0 and its conditions for application were explored. We propose that aerial images can be substituted by AutoCAD graphics of a green space containing detailed information of plant dispositions by digitizing the key features during the working process in order to evaluate the ecological benefits quickly and to offer proper guidance to the establishment of small scale green spaces in urban areas. The theoretical foundation, potential application range and prospects for extension of the method are introduced by using the analysis of ecological benefits of the green spaces on the campus of Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, as an example.

Evaluation on Regional Ecological Benefits of Windbreak Systems

This paper studied how dynamically to evaluate regional ecological benefits of windbreak systems in a county scale. Data of air temperature. humidity. wind speed, crop yield and forest cover percentage were investigated and collected in some of counties of Heilongjiang Province, where windbreak systems were established in the last thirty years. Through analysis, an evaluation index system estimating regional ecological benetits of windbreak systems was set up, which consists of both a vegetation index system and a climate index systeln. The former includes a forest cover percentage index and a crop yield index; the later does three variable indexes of wind speed, air temperature and humidity. An integrated regional ecological benefit index.was developed through combinations of some coined evaluation indexes from the evaluation system.And to take Zhaozhou County and Anda County as a case study, the regional ecological benetits since establishment of windbreak systems of the two counties were evaluated dynamically using the integrated index.

External Costs and Optimum Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer Based on the Balance of Economic and Ecological Benefits in the Paddy Field System of the Dongting Lake Area, China

The external costs and the optimum use of nitrogen fertilizer based on the balance of economic and ecological benefits was studied with the paddy field system of Dongting Lake area, one of the main food production regions in China. The environmental impact was economically evaluated using methods of the environmental impact economical evaluation. The optimum use of nitrogen fertilizer was calculated based on the exterior diseconomy theory and by using the production function model. Both ecological benefits and farmers＇ economic benefits were considered. It was calculated on the data from 2002 that the losses caused by inappropriate utilization of nitrogen fertilizer in the process of food production were fishery, 0.1 × 10^7 RMB yuan; water treatment, 1.02 × 10^8 RMB yuan; tour business, 0.11 ×10^8 RMB yuan, and habitation environment, 0.3 × 10^7 RMB yuan, totally equivalent to 0.41 RMB yuan kg^-1 N. The economically satisfactory and the ecological agronomic nitrogen fertilizer dose for current production was 138 and 137 kg ha^-1, respectively. The research showed that the actual nitrogen fertilizer application amount in the paddy field system of the Dongting Lake area already reached or exceeded the farmers＇ economic satisfaction and the ecological agronomic nitrogen fertilizer dose for current production. An environmental tax is suggested to impose on over-use of nitrogen fertilizer.

Ecological Benefits of Compound Ridge Culture in Hillside Orchard in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area

Based on contour tillage of wide ridge and furrow covering and agro-forestry, this paper sets up a compound ridge culture mode in hillside orchards and introduces a long-term observation to the mode＇s effects on ecological benefits of water and soil conservation. A five-year study shows that compound ridge culture in hillside orchards is effective in water and soil conservation, especially in reducing soil erosion. Compared with the traditional management modes of orchards, compound ridge culture has reduced runoff amount by 41.96%-57.96%, soil erosion amount by 55.47%-67.75%. Compound ridge culture also brings an obvious reduction of soil nutrient loss and of non-point source pollution, which is of great importance for keeping and increasing the productivity of hillside orchards in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area.

Effects of Enclosure on Grassland Ecological and Economic Benefits in Northern China

Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base.There,installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local governments.However,the effects of restoration on both ecological and production benefits of grassland remain unclear for implemented grassland restoration policies.Therefore,a representative rangeland in northern China,the Maodeng pasture in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was selected as the study area,and remote sensing monitoring analyses were carried out to quantify the ecological benefits and economic benefits from 2015 to 2021.The results showed that:1) in terms of ecological benefits,the grassland area with a grassland coverage rate of more than 60% accounts for 32.3% of the regional area,and 86.4% of its grassland grew significantly better than the same period in2015,showing a significant improvement in grassland growth.Using the average amount of carbon per unit area as the ecological benefit evaluation index,it increased by 27.1% to 32.48Tg C/yr from 2015 to 2021.2) In terms of economic benefits,both theoretical grass production and livestock carrying capacity increased from 2015 to 2021.Compared to 2015,the theoretical grass production in 2021 increased by 24.8% to 71 900 t.The livestock carrying capacity reached 52 100 sheep units in 2021,nearly 11 000 sheep units more than that in 2015.During the study period,multiple economic indicators(on a per capita basis of permanent residents) for the pastoral area of Xilinhot City to which the Maodeng pasture belongs,have grown steadily.Per capita total income rose from 29 630 yuan(RMB) in2015 to 62 859 yuan(RMB) in 2021.Relying on grassland resources to develop the pastoral ecology also broadens the potential economic development space.Overall,the establishment of the reserve and the experiment of implanting an enclosure policy have had a significant and positive impact on Maodeng pasture’s development from both an ecological and economic perspective.With the support of scientific evidence,enclosure policy can be extended to more than 110 000 km~2 of grasslands in northern China with similar precipitation and temperature conditions,enhancing the productive and ecological potential of grasslands.The above research results will contribute to the scientific formulation of grassland pasture quality improvement plans in northern China.

Integrated agronomic practice management decreases soil carbon emission and increases environmental ecological benefits of summer maize

Integrated agronomic practice management(IAPM)is an effective strategy for increasing nitrogen(N)use efficiency(NUE)and yield during crop production.Although various studies have evaluated the mechanism of a single agronomic management practice to increase yield and production efficiency and decrease environmental costs,few have investigated the effects of IAPM systems.A field experiment was conducted using four IAPM systems,a local smallholder farmers’practice system(T1),an improved management system(T2),a high-yield production system(T3),and an optimized management system(OMS),to study the annual yield,greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,carbon(C)footprint(CF),and net environmental ecological benefit(NEEB)of summer maize.The results revealed that OMS was the most advantageous choice of IAPM,which increased yield and NUE and reduced GHG emissions and CF.Under OMS,yield and NUE were 42.6%and 88.1%higher,and N_(2)O,CO_(2),and CH4 emissions were on average 35.4%,5.8%,and 156.5%lower,respectively,than those under T1.Of the four IAPM systems,OMS resulted in the best soil quality,the lowest soil bulk density,the highest soil C/N ratio,and the highest soil total organic C content,which contributed to reduced GHG emissions.Carbon footprint and cost were the lowest under OMS,which decreased fertilizer input and GHG emissions.Optimized management system reduced CF and C cost by 5.9%and 33.9%,respectively,and increased NEEB by 111.4%compared to T1.Although T3 had the highest yield,it also had the highest GHG emissions and CF.In conclusion,OMS delivered a high yield and NUE while mitigating negative environmental impacts and increasing NEEB.Therefore,OMS is a suitable management system to increase the productivity and sustainability of summer maize.

Vegetation ecological benefts index (VEBI): a 3D spatial model for evaluating the ecological benefits of vegetation

Urban population explosion may increase ecological environment discomfort,thereby affecting negatively humans’mental and physical performance.Therefore,it is important to detect and monitor vegetation and predict its ecological benefits.The complex composition of urban environment ground objects,such as steel roofs,plastic courts,and building shadows,significantly interferes with vegetation detection and monitoring.The optimized hyperspectral image-based vegetation index(OHSVI)constructed in this study effectively solves this problem.However,it is difficult to accurately predict the ecological benefits of vegetation based on the two-dimensional vegetation information extracted based on remote sensing images;this is related to the three-dimensional(3D)structure of vegetation and the 3D pattern of buildings.Therefore,wefirst proposed the vegetation ecological benefits index(VEBI)based on the 3D structure of vegetation to reveal how vegetation acts on its 3D surroundings.The method was tested in a playground,an academic building,and a parking space.The results showed that the vegetation extraction accuracy of the OHSVI exceeded 93%,which is better than that of the existing indices.Ourfindings suggest that VEBI may be efficient in predicting 3D vegetation ecological benefits combined with remote sensing and lidar datasets.

A discussion on compensation of forest ecological engineering benefit

On the basis of analysis of the present situation of the ecological benefit compensation in China and foreign countries, this paper discusses the necessity, principle and approach of establishing the compensation mechanism of forest ecological benefit, as well as compensation standard in order to provide scientific basis for further perfecting the compensation mechanism of forest ecological engineering benefit in China. It is suggested that setting up the compensation mechanism of forest ecological benefit can not only provide the steady funds source of managing and protecting forest resources, but resolve radically the dynamic and mechanism problems of commonweal forest ecological engineering construction, which will produce a widespread and profound influence on China forestry and ecological construction.

Adjustment of Payments for Ecological Benefits in Traditional Agricultural Areas: Case Study on SADO Island, Japan

To date, theories of eco-compensation and biological restoration have been popular, and some models in developed countries are treated as good examples. Here, we not only focus on Japan, but also pay more attention to challenges during this process. Based on a long-term field study on Sado Island, a less developed region in Japan, we attempt to describe how the government carries out environmental remediation towards the reintroduction of ibis （Species name） into the wild, and the conflict between ibis habitat restoration and farm management. We discuss the underlying reasons for this conflict and the negative effect on regional development. We follow policy improvements of the local government and related supplementary help carried out to fix the mismatch between the payment for ecological benefits and that lost by farmers in the pre-period. We conclude that the coordination of interest among different social groups is the key for success in ecological restoration and compensatory measures have to be made to meet the actual needs of the local groups. This case study in Japan can be applied to similar regions with poor environments and urgent environment restoration needs in China.

Optimization of water-urban-agricultural-ecological land use pattern:A case study of Guanzhong Basin in the southern Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province,China

Extensive land use will cause many environmental problems.It is an urgent task to improve land use efficiency and optimize land use patterns.In recent years,due to the flow decrease,the Guanzhong Basin in Shaanxi Province is confronted with the problem of insufficient water resources reserve.Based on the Coupled Ground-Water and Surface-Water Flow Model(GSFLOW),this paper evaluates the response of water resources in the basin to changes in land use patterns,optimizes the land use pattern,improves the ecological and economic benefits,and the efficiency of various spatial development,providing a reference for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.The research shows that the land use pattern in the Guanzhong Basin should be further optimized.Under the condition of considering ecological and economic development,the percentage change of the optimum area of farmland,forest,grassland,water area,and urban area compared with the current land use area ratio is+2.3,+2.4,-6.1,+0.2,and+1.6,respectively.The economic and ecological value of land increases by14.1%and 3.1%,respectively,and the number of water resources can increase by 2.5%.

Analysis on the ecological benefits of the stream water conveyance to the dried-up river of the lower reaches of Tarim River,China

This paper analyzes the monitored data of the 4 times of stream water conveyances to the river section where the stream flow was cut-off, of 9 groundwater-monitoring sections and 18 vegetation plots in the lower reaches of Tarim River. The results show that the groundwater depth in the lower reaches of Tarim River rose from 9.87 m before the conveyances to 7.74 m and 3.79 m after the first and second conveyances, 3.61 and 3.16 m after the 2 phases of the third conveyance, and 2.66 m after the fourth conveyance. The transverse response scope of groundwater level was gradually enlarged along both sides of the channel of conveyances, i.e., from 450 m in width after the first conveyance to 1050 m after the fourth conveyance, but the response degree of groundwater level was reduced with the increase of the distance away from the channel of conveyances. The composition, distribution and growth status of the natural vegetation are directly related to the groundwater depth. The indexes of Simpson’s biodiversity, McIntosh’s evenness and Margalef’s richness, which reflect the change of the quantity of species and the degree of biodiversity, are reduced from 0.70, 0.48 and 0.90 to 0.26, 0.17 and 0.37 re- spectively along with the drawdown of groundwater level from the upper reaches to the lower reaches. After the stream water conveyances, the natural vegetation in the lower reaches is saved and restored along with the rise of groundwater level, the response scope of vegetation is gradually enlarged, i.e., from 200— 250 m in width after the first conveyance to 800 m after the fourth conveyance. However, there is still a great disparity to the objective of protecting the “Green Corridor”in the lower reaches of Tarim River. Thus, it is suggested to convey the stream water in double-channel way, combine the conveyance with water supply in surface scope, or construct the modern pipe-conveyance network systems so as to save the natural vegetation in an intensive way, achieve the efficient water consumption and speed up the restoration and re- generation of the damaged ecosystems in the lower reaches of Tarim River.

Ecological Benefit Evaluation of Agricultural Heritage System Conservation——A Case Study of the Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System

In order to better understand the developmental conditions and trends of the biodiversity at agricultural heritage sites,the structure and function of the ecosystem and ecological environment in Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System is examined in the decade since the implementation of the GIAHS project.Through the collection of historical data and sample-plot survey,this study collates the data from 2005 to 2013 related to the heritage site to evaluate the ecological benefit of the Agricultural Heritage System conservation.The results show that:(1)Since the implementation of heritage conservation,the variety of traditional rice grown at the heritage sites basically remains stable,the varieties of other crops basically remain unchanged and the varieties of fruit trees and medicinal plants have developed at faster rates.As the ecological environment at the heritage sites gradually improved,the species and richness of the biodiversity in the ecosystem have increased,especially the increasing growth of egrets and boars.(2)From 2005 to 2013 in the Fangshan Town of Qingtian County,the ecosystem areas identified as river,forest,urban and bare land have increased.The increased area of the urban ecosystem is the largest one of them,which is up to 20.30 ha;while the area of the forest ecosystem has increased to 7.29 ha.The areas of wetland,reservoir,farmland and grassland have been reduced,and the area of grassland ecosystem has been reduced the most with a reduction of 28.87 ha.From the changes in the values of the ecosystem services of different ecosystem types,the values of forest ecosystem services have achieved the most growth,reaching up to 92000 yuan yr-1 and the growth of the river and bare land ecosystem service values are not obvious.(3)Over nearly a decade,the soil nutrients and the water quality of rice fields at the heritage site have not obviously changed and the plant diseases and insect pests in the rice fields have not been aggravated.The monitoring indexes are far better than the standard values.With the great support of the local government,the production and living conditions and the living environments of farmers in the villages of the heritage sites have been greatly improved through road reconstruction,water improvement,toilet enhancements and the greening,brightness and beautification of the villages.

Potential Ecological Benefits of the Middle Route for the South-North Water Diversion Project

This paper presents a study of the middle route of the South-North Water Diversion Project. The middle route runs through the Northern China plain, where the water shortages are the most severe. There is not only a shortage of water for human usage, but also a shortage of ecological water. Although the current plan for the middle route is strictly focused on supplying water for residential and industrial use, the water can also potentially be used for ecological purposes. This paper evaluates the potential ecological benefits that can be brought to the fragile ecology in northern China by the middle route, in addition to the water supplied to residences and industry. The study describes ecological benefits of the middle route project, such as mitigation of groundwater extraction in the region and positive influences on the climate, the ecological uses of the middle route project itself, such as creating artificial niches along the channel and directly using the channel for ecological purposes, and the ecological uses of the water along the middle route such as diversion of the water into dyer channels that have suffered from drought conditions for decades.

Ecological economic benefit in sustainable development

From the concept of ecological economic benefit, I put forward the general formula for the benefit of ecological economy and the appraisal methods of the ecological economy. Theory on ecological benefit and economic benefit is the base of the benefits of ecological economy To some extent the development of ecological economy, theory and practice on eco-agriculture are both the production made from opposition and unify of ecological benefit and economic benefit. This paper discusses the ＂T＂ type saucture, which will give the theoretical bases for enhancing the ecological and economical benefits.

Research on Evaluation of Forest Ecological Benefit

Forests create three major benefits, i.e. economic, ecological and social benefits. Evaluation onforest ecological benefits is an important issue to study nowadays, which can provide the scientific basis forreasonable allocation of resources and realization of forestry compensation. This paper is focused on theconception of forest ecological benefits, the current research on evaluation of forest ecological benefits athome and abroad, and research methods adopted and theoretical basis with the following 7 aspects involved:water head protection, soil and water conservation, wind prevention and sand fixing, carbon fixing and oxygenproduction, atmosphere purification, forest recreation and biodiversity conservation. Problems existing incurrent studies are also presented, such as rationality of replacement, compatibility of the outcomes, repetitionof calculation, comprehensiveness of evaluation and affection of subjective factors, and so on. In the end,suggestions for future studies on evaluation of forest ecological benefits are offered.

The Ecological Effects of Young Elm Trees Belt-Pumpkin Strip Intercropping System at the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone in Northern China

Young elm trees belt-pumpkin strip intercropping was studied to solve the actual problem of resource losses in the large barren area resulted from reconverting cultivated land into forest in the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China. The final objective was to realize effective utilization of the barren land with both ecological improvement and economic development. Field experiments were conducted together with laboratory analysis. The results indicated that the soil moisture level was remarkably increased in young elm trees belt-pumpkin strip intereropping because the pumpkin vines covered the gap between pumpkin planting-furrow and elm trees belt. The water use efficiency of the intercropping system was increased by 23.7-163.3% as compared with the single cropping. Elm trees belt-pumpkin strip intercropping changed the sequential succession trend of the grasses growing in the gap of the pumpkin planting-furrow. The annual grasses become the dominant vegetation. The nutritive value as fodder and yield of the annual grasses were also increased remarkably. The biomass of pumpkin, elm trees and grasses under intercropping increased by 24.4, 28.4 and 144.4%, respectively, as compared with those under single cropping. The land use efficiency was increased by 132%. It was also indicated that the soil erosion from the intercropping land was not increased due to pumpkin plantation. The differences in the soil erosion among intercropped area, elm trees belt and pumpkin strip with single cropping were not remarkable. Therefore, it was concluded that young elm trees belt-pumpkin strip intercropping is an effective way to utilize the barren land between the young elm trees belt and realize synergistic enhancement of ecological benefit and economic profit.

Adopting an ecological view of metropolitan landscape: the case of “three circles" system for ecological construction and restoration in Beijing area

Ecological construction and restoration for sustainable development are now a driving paradigm. It is increasingly recognized that ecological principles, especially landscape ecology theory, are not only necessary but also essential to maintain the long-term sustainability worldwide. Key landscape ecology principles—element, structure and process, dynamics, heterogeneity, hierarchies, connectivity, place and time were reviewed, and use Beijing area as a case study to illustrate how these principles might be applied to ecological construction and restoration, to eventually achieve sustainability. An example to more effectively incorporate the ecological principles in sustainable planning in China was presented.