Spatial patterns of ecosystem vulnerability changes during 2001–2011 in the three-river source region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

The three-river source region (TRSR, including Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers), located in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, is a typical alpine zone with apparent ecosystem vulnerability and sensitivity. In this paper, we introduced many interdisciplinary factors, such as landscape pattern indices (Shannon diversity index and Shannon evenness index) and extreme climate factors (number of extreme high temperature days, number of extreme low temperature days, and number of extreme precipitation days), to establish a new model for evaluating the spatial patterns of ecosystem vulnerability changes in the TRSR. The change intensity (CI) of ecosystem vulnerability was also analyzed. The results showed that the established evaluation model was effective and the ecosystem vulnerability in the whole study area was intensive. During the study period of 2001–2011, there was a slight degradation in the eco-environmental quality. The Yellow River source region had the best eco-environmental quality, while the Yangtze River source region had the worst one. In addition, the zones dominated by deserts were the most severely deteriorated areas and the eco-environmental quality of the zones occupied by evergreen coniferous forests showed a better change. Furthermore, the larger the change rates of the climate factors (accumulative temperature of ≥10°C and annual average precipitation) are, the more intensive the CI of ecosystem vulnerability is. This study would provide a scientific basis for the eco-environmental protection and restoration in the TRSR.

Aboveground biomass of the alpine shrub ecosystems in Three-River Source Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Though aboveground biomass(AGB) has an important contribution to the global carbon cycle,the information about storage and climatic effects of AGB is scare in Three-River Source Region(TRSR)shrub ecosystems. This study investigated AGB storage and its climatic controls in the TRSR alpine shrub ecosystems using data collected from 23 sites on the Tibetan Plateau from 2011 to 2013. We estimated the AGB storage(both shrub layer biomass and grass layer biomass) in the alpine shrubs as 37.49 Tg, with an average density of 1447.31 g m^(-2). Biomass was primarily accumulated in the shrub layer, which accounted for 92% of AGB, while the grass layer accounted for only 8%. AGB significantly increased with the mean annual temperature(P < 0.05). The effects of the mean annual precipitation on AGB were not significant. These results suggest that temperature,rather than precipitation, has significantly effects on of aboveground vegetation growth in the TRSR alpine shrub ecosystems. The actual and potential increase in AGB density was different due to global warming varies among different regions of the TRSR. We conclude that long-term monitoring of dynamic changes is necessary to improve the accuracy estimations of potential AGB carbon sequestration across the TRSR alpine shrub ecosystems.

Ecosystem carbon storage and sink/source of temperate forested wetlands in Xiaoxing’anling, northeast China

Wetlands play an important role in the global carbon cycle, but there are still considerable uncertainties in the estimation of wetland carbon storage and a dispute on whether wetlands are carbon sources or carbon sinks. Xiaoxing’anling are one of several concentrated distribution areas of forested wetland in China, but the carbon storage and carbon sink/source of forested wetlands in this area is unclear. We measured the ecosystem carbon storage (vegetation and soil), annual net carbon sequestration of vegetation and annual carbon emissions of soil heterotrophic respiration of five typical forested wetland types (alder swamp, white birch swamp, larch swamp, larch fen, and larch bog) distributed along a moisture gradient in this area in order to reveal the spatial variations of their carbon storage and quantitatively evaluate their position as carbon sink or source according to the net carbon balance of the ecosystems. The results show that the larch fen had high carbon storage (448.8 t ha^(−1)) (6.8% higher than the larch bog and 10.5–30.1% significantly higher than other three wetlands (P < 0.05), the white birch swamp and larch bog were medium carbon storage ecosystems (406.3 and 420.1 t ha^(−1)) (12.4–21.8% significantly higher than the other two types (P < 0.0 5), while the alder swamp and larch swamp were low in carbon storage (345.0 and 361.5 t ha^(−1), respectively). The carbon pools of the five wetlands were dominated by their soil carbon pools (88.5–94.5%), and the vegetation carbon pool was secondary (5.5–11.5%). At the same time, their ecosystem net carbon balances were positive (0.1–0.6 t ha^(−1) a^(−1)) because the annual net carbon sequestration of vegetation (4.0–4.5 t ha^(−1) a^(−1)) were higher than the annual carbon emissions of soil heterotrophic respiration (CO_(2) and CH_(4)) (3.8–4.4 t ha^(−1) a^(−1)) in four wetlands, (the alder swamp being the exception), so all four were carbon sinks while only the alder swamp was a source of carbon emissions (− 2.1 t ha^(−1) a^(−1)) due to a degraded tree layer. Our results demonstrate that these forested wetlands were generally carbon sinks in the Xiaoxing’anling, and there was obvious spatial variation in carbon storage of ecosystems along the moisture gradient.

Changes in stress within grassland ecosystems in the three counties of the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers

Based on a database of more than 40 years of second production process and energy flow records for Maduo,Qumalai and Yushu counties,a dynamic model of the stress within grassland ecosys-tems was established using a nonlinear regression method for this source regions of the Yangtze and Yel-low Rivers.The results show that dynamic curves of stress within grassland ecosystems in the three coun-ties were in the shape of an inverted 'U' during the period 1965-2007.It also revealed that the variation in actual amount of livestock inventories reflected the general trends of the stress within the grassland eco-systems in the source regions,although there were many other factors for the increase or reduction in grassland ecosystem stress.

Climate Change and Ecological Projects Jointly Promote Vegetation Restoration in Three-River Source Region of China

As the source of the Yellow River,Yangtze River,and Lancang River,the Three-River Source Region(TRSR)in China is very important to China’s ecological security.In recent decades,TRSR’s ecosystem has degraded because of climate change and human disturbances.Therefore,a range of ecological projects were initiated by Chinese government around 2000 to curb further degradation.Current research shows that the vegetation of the TRSR has been initially restored over the past two decades,but the respective contribution of ecological projects and climate change in vegetation restoration has not been clarified.Here,we used the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI)to assess the spatial-temporal variations in vegetation and explore the impact of climate and human actions on vegetation in TRSR during 2001–2018.The results showed that about 26.02%of the TRSR had a significant increase in EVI over the 18 yr,with an increasing rate of 0.010/10 yr(P<0.05),and EVI significantly decreased in only 3.23%of the TRSR.Residual trend analysis indicated vegetation restoration was jointly promoted by climate and human actions,and the promotion of human actions was greater compared with that of climate,with relative contributions of 59.07%and40.93%,respectively.However,the degradation of vegetation was mainly caused by human actions,with a relative contribution of71.19%.Partial correlation analysis showed that vegetation was greatly affected by temperature(r=0.62,P<0.05)due to the relatively sufficient moisture but lower temperature in TRSR.Furthermore,the establishment of nature reserves and the implementation of the Ecological Protection and Restoration Program(EPRP)improved vegetation,and the first stage EPRP had a better effect on vegetation restoration than the second stage.Our findings identify the driving factors of vegetation change and lay the foundation for subsequent effective management.

Spatial and temporal change patterns of freeze-thaw erosion in the three-river source region under the stress of climate warming

The three-river source region(TRSR), located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, suffers from serious freeze-thaw(FT) erosion in China. Considering the unique eco-environment and the driving factors of the FT process in the TRSR, we introduce the driving force factors of FT erosion(rainfall erosivity and wind field intensity during FT period) and precipitation during the FT period(indicating the phase-changed water content). The objective was to establish an improved evaluation method of FT erosion in the TRSR. The method has good applicability in the study region with an overall precision of 92%. The spatial and temporal changes of FT erosion from 2000 to 2015 are analyzed. Results show that FT erosion is widely distributed in the TRSR, with slight and mild erosion being the most widely distributed, followed by moderate erosion. Among the three sub-regions, the source region of the Yellow River has the slightest erosion intensity, whereas the erosion intensity of the source region of Yangtze River is the most severe. A slight improvement can be observed in the condition of FTerosion over the whole study region from 2000 to 2015. Vegetation coverage is the dominant factor affecting the intensity of FT erosion in the zones with sparse vegetation or bare land, whereas the climate factors play an important role in high vegetation coverage area. Slopes>28° also have a significant effect on the intensity of FT erosion in the zones. The results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and management of the soil FT erosion in the TRSR.

Changes in Grassland Ecosystem Service Values in the Three-River Headwaters Region,China

[Method] This study aimed to assess the changes in grassland ecosystem Service values in the Three-River Headwaters Region of China, the source of the Yangtze, Yellow （Huang He） and Lantsang （Mekong） rivers. [Method] Biophysical values of four services were monetized within the region, including water regulation, air quality regulation, climate regulation and soil conservation. [Result] The total ESVs were 884.97×10^8 Yuan, 1 302.06×10^8 Yuan and 1 299.49×10^8 Yuan in 2000, 2005 and 2008, respectively. The amount of value per unit area experienced a steep increase from 2000 to 2005（18.10×10^4 Yuan/km2）, and then remained almost unchanged from 2005 to 2008 （-0.31×10^4 Yuan/km2）. The ESV tended to decline from the southeastern to the northwestern. ESV in the eastern and central part increased faster than that in the south-central and western part of the TRHR from 2000 to 2008. It could be seen that the ecosystem condition of grassland in the TRHR improved signifi- cantly over the study period of 2000-2008. [Conelusion] The results provided good information to assess the effectiveness of current ecological protection measures in the TRHR and support regional sustainable management policies.

Variations of precipitation characteristics during the period 1960–2014 in the Source Region of the Yellow River,China

Precipitation, a natural feature of weather systems in the Earth, is vitally important for the environment of any region. Under global climate change condition, the characteristics of precipitation have changed as a consequence of enhanced global hydrological cycle. The source region of the Yellow River（SRYR）, locating within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is sensitive to the global climate change due to its complex orography and fragile ecosystem. To understand the precipitation characteristics and its impacts on the environment in the region, we studied the characteristics of rainy days and precipitation amount of different precipitation classes, such as light（0–5 and 5–10 mm）, moderate（10–15, 15–20 and 20–25 mm） and heavy（≥25 mm） rains by analyzing the precipitation data of typical meteorological stations in the SRYR during the period 1961–2014, as well as the trends of persistent rainfall events and drought events. Results showed that annual average precipitation in this area had a non-significant（P〉0.05） increasing trend, and 82.5% of the precipitation occurred from May to September. Rainy days of the 0–5 mm precipitation class significantly decreased, whereas the rainy days of 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes increased and that of ≥25 mm precipitation class decreased insignificantly. The persistent rainfall events of 1-or 2-day and more than 2-day showed an increasing trend, with the 1-or 2-day events being more frequent. Meanwhile, the number of short drought periods（≤10 days） increased while long drought periods（〉10 days） decreased. Since the 0–5 mm precipitation class had a huge impact on the grasslands productivity; the 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes had positive effects on vegetation which rely on the deep soil water through moving nutrients and water into the root zone of these vegetation or through the plant-microbe interactions; the ≥25 mm precipitation class contributed to the floods; and more persistent rainfall events and fewer long drought events inferred positive effects on agriculture. Thus, these results indicate grassland degradation, less risk of floods, and the upgrading impact of climate change on agriculture. This study may provide scientific knowledge for policymakers to sustain the eco-environmental resources in the SYSR.

Diversity analysis of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes from the Yellow River source area:Ⅰ

Twenty-four soil samples of eight ecosystem-types around the Yellow River source area were investigated for the number and specific composition of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes by dilution plate technique. And then the co-relationship between genus species of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes and ecosystem-types was analyzed. The results show that the amount and species distribution of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes had an obvious variability in different ecosystem-types, and that the dominant genus species varied in the eight ecosystem-types studied, with Cladosporium being the dominant genus in seven of the eight ecosystem-types except wetland. The index of species diversity varied in different ecosystem-types. The niche breadth analysis showed that Cladosporium had the highest niche breadth and distributed in all ecosystem-types, while the genera with a narrow niche breadth distributed only in a few ecosystem-types. The results of niche overlap index analysis indicated that Stachybotrys and Torula, Doratomyces and Scolecobasidium, Cladosporium and Chrysosporium had a higher niche overlap, whereas Arthrinium and Gliomastix, Phialophora and Doratomyces, Oidiodendron and Ulocladium had no niche overlap.

Ecosystem changes revealed by land cover in the three-river headwaters region of Qinghai,China(1990–2015)

The Three-River Headwaters Region(TRHR) of Qinghai Province, in the Tibetan Plateau of China, is the main source of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers, and is very significant to the security of freshwater resources for China and southeastern Asia. It is a critical ecological region of China for its ecological functions, and has been changed or even degraded in recent decades owing to climate change and human pressure. To effectively protect and restore the degraded ecosystems, the Chinese government initiated a series of ecological conservation projects in TRHR. It is essential to quantitatively assess ecosystem changes and their relationship to driving factors for indepth understanding of long-term changes of ecosystems and effects of ecological restoration policies and offer practical insights for ecological restoration. Here, land cover data has been interpreted with the series data of Landsat during 1990–2015. The patterns of different ecosystems and their developing process have been derived from land cover change. The results show that ecosystem types in TRHR include forest, grassland, cropland,wetland, artificial surface and barren land, accounting for 4.51%, 70.80%, 0.15%, 9.47%, 0.16% and 14.90%,respectively. Barren land converted to wetland was the significant ecosystem change from 1990 to 2015. Increases in temperature and precipitation and implementation of ecological rehabilitation helped maintain relatively stable ecosystem patterns. It is necessary to continue ecological projects to improve and/or maintain the ecosystems in TRHR because there is still a risk of land degradation under increasing climate change and human activity.

Using ecosystem service supply and ecosystem sensitivity to identify landscape ecology security patterns in the Lanzhou-Xining urban agglomeration, China

The construction of an ecological security pattern(ESP)is an important way to ensure regional ecological security and to achieve sustainable regional development.It is also one of the hotspot topics of landscape ecology research.This paper identifies the ecological source through the evaluation of the ecosystem service and ecosystem sensitivity of the Lanzhou-Xining(Lan-Xi)urban agglomeration.The minimum cumulative resistance(MCR)model modified by night light data NPP/VIIRS(National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite)was used to measure the relative resistance of the materials and energy circulation between the source areas,and to establish the resistance surface of the ecological source area expansion.Then ecological corridors were identified based on ecological sources and resistance surface.The ecological strategic node is the ecological fragile point in the ecological corridors.The ecological strategic node is identified with hydrological module by superimposing the"ridge line"of cumulative ecological resistance with the ecological corridor.Combined with ecological sources,corridors and strategic nodes,the ESP of the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration can be constructed.The ecological source of the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration accounts for 28.42%of the total area,most of which is distributed within Qinghai Province.The nature reserves in the area are all located within the ecological source area.A total of 41 potential ecological corridors have been identified in the study area.The total length of the potential corridors is 1201.03 km,comprising 23 source corridors and 18 radiation corridors.There are 30 strategic nodes identified in the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration.These locations are the most vulnerable areas of the ecological corridors.Ecological engineering should be applied in the construction of corridors.Affected by the ecological source,the potential ecological corridor extends from the northwest to the southeast,which is basically consistent with the direction trend of the mountains in the region.

开源软件库生态治理技术研究综述:二十年进展

在“人-机-物”三元融合、泛在计算的时代蓝海下,“开放多变”“需求多样”和“场景复杂”的软件部署和运行环境对开源软件库生态的治理技术提出了更多需求和更高期望.为进一步推动构建可信软件供应链生态,围绕泛在计算模式、打造自主可控的技术体系,聚焦于开源软件库管理生态,收集近20多年来(2001–2023)发表于软件工程领域较高影响力的学术期刊和会议的348篇论文,对开源软件库生态治理技术的研究工作进行梳理.讨论开源软件库生态的建模与分析、演化与维护、质量保证和管理等方面的工作,总结研究现状、问题、挑战与趋势.

基于多源数据的重庆中心城区绿地生态系统文化服务供需关系研究

快速城市化及城市扩张过程中,城市绿地生态系统文化服务(CES)供给与公众需求空间失衡问题日益凸显。如何有效识别城市绿地文化服务供需空间匹配特征是优化绿地空间布局、提升绿地服务效率的关键所在。本研究以重庆市中心城区为研究范围,基于地理空间数据等多源数据,运用GIS分析技术、空间相关性分析等方法,构建了城市绿地文化服务供需评价指标体系和分析框架,识别了山地城市绿地文化服务供给与居民需求的空间匹配类型。研究发现CES供给具明显的空间聚集性,全局莫兰指数为0.720,呈现为“大核—次核—小核”的分布形态,CES需求全局莫兰指数为0.834,呈现中心高外围低、西高东低的空间格局,双变量自相关分析显示供给与需求之间存在空间结构相似性,CES供需关系整体上较好,但一些关键区域匹配失衡压力较大。根据供需平衡关系特征,将研究区识别为六类空间类型,并对每种类型提出了CES优化提升路径。研究结果可为山地城市绿地生态系统文化服务优化路径提供理论支撑与实践借鉴。

京津风沙源生态系统服务时空分布及冷热点分析

[目的]为明晰京津风沙源区生态系统服务时空格局特征及识别其冷热点,评估京津风沙源区实施生态工程后的生态效益及生态影响。[方法]基于京津风沙源区2000—2017年的遥感、气象、土壤、土地利用等数据,利用CASA(carnegie-ames-stanford approach)模型、InVEST(integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade offs)模型、RWEQ(revised wind erosion equation)模型和RUSLE(revised universal soil loss equation)模型分别估算产水量、土壤保持、固碳和防风固沙服务,采用Getis-Ord Gi~*统计指数方法,识别京津风沙源区生态系统服务冷热点区域。[结果](1)2000—2017年各项生态系统服务功能均呈现上升趋势,4项生态系统服务功能的高值区集中在研究区的东南部,低值区集中在研究区的西北部。(2)2000—2017年4项生态系统服务均在京津风沙源西南部的鄂尔多斯高原沙化土地治理区出现明显的热点面积增加现象;固碳服务热点区域面积显著增加,其中,浑善达克-科尔沁沙地沙化土地治理区和坝上高原及华北北部丘陵山地水源涵养治理区的冷点区域向热点区域转化;产水服务冷热点面积占比没有明显变化,热点区主要集中在研究区南部坝上高原及华北北部丘陵山地水源涵养治理区,冷点区分布较为零散;防风固沙服务冷点区域面积增加;土壤保持服务冷热点区域面积占比很小且变化不大,区域土壤保持供给能力比较平均。(3)多重生态系统服务结果显示,研究区东南部区域能够提供2项及以上的高值生态系统服务功能,属于重点生态系统服务功能供给区,约占整个研究区15.5%。(4)2000—2017年林地4项生态系统服务热点面积占比较高,草地和林地的固碳服务功能热点面积显著增加,林地可提供较高的综合生态系统服务功能。[结论]京津风沙源治理工程的实施使得区域内总体生态系统服务功能提升。研究结果可为评估京津风沙源治理工程恢复成效提供一定科学数据,最终实现京津地区生态环境的可持续发展。

中国典型农业生态系统的固碳减排现状、影响因素及减排措施

农业生态系统既是温室气体的重要贡献者之一,也是固碳端,在固碳减排上发挥着重要作用。在“碳达峰”和“碳中和”的背景下,农业生态系统的固碳减排潜力巨大。本文主要综述了中国典型农业生态类型中主要温室气体的来源、固定途径及其影响因素,讨论了农业生态系统固碳减排的现有研究成果、减排潜力以及存在问题,总结了推动整个农业生态系统固碳相关领域的研究,展望了新的研究方向和探索途径。为中国进一步固碳减排、农业可持续发展,尽快实现“双碳”目标提供重要理论参考。

鄱阳湖典型洲滩湿地植物水碳稳定同位素与内在水分利用效率变化特征

在极端水文事件频发和人类活动影响加剧的背景下,鄱阳湖水文情势的异常变动给洲滩湿地植物带来了一系列影响。为进一步了解鄱阳湖湿地植物水分利用来源和内在水分利用效率(iWUE)的季节变化规律,揭示优势植物在生长过程中对不同水分变化的适应策略,于2020年12月-2021年5月在鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区蚌湖和修河之间的典型洲滩湿地上设置监测断面,对灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)、南荻(Triarrhena lutarioriparia)植物样品及其潜在水源样品进行系统采集,测定并分析了水、碳稳定同位素的动态变化特征和指示意义。结果表明,典型洲滩湿地苔草和南荻植物茎水的氢、氧稳定同位素组成没有表现出明显差异,从冬季至春季,植物茎水的δ^(18)O值总体上均呈现波动富集的变化趋势。苔草在春季生长期iWUE没有表现出明显变化,而南荻在萌发时期iWUE最低,之后的生长期iWUE具有显著的增长趋势。在各潜在水源当中,植物茎水的同位素组成与土层中的重力水最为相近,其次为与根系分布联系密切的土壤水。在春季降水频繁时,来源于降水且埋深较浅的重力水可能是植物利用的主要水源,而在枯水期重力水埋深较深时,植物采取降水和土壤水的混合利用模式应对水分胁迫。植物叶片有机质的δ^(18)O值分析发现,苔草在萌发生长期i WUE的变化与光合作用能力相关的因素有关,南荻iWUE的变化主要受气孔导度变化的影响。

农田微塑料污染现状及对土壤生态系统的危害

微塑料由塑料分解而来,具有颗粒小、化学性质稳定、吸附性强等特点,广泛分布于环境中。农业中常见的农膜覆盖、肥料施用、农田灌溉等方式会造成大量的微塑料输入,且对土壤生态系统造成一定的影响和潜在威胁。为加深对农田土壤微塑料污染现状的了解,更好地防范其带来的生态风险,本研究综述了农田土壤微塑料的来源、污染现状、迁移和降解机制及对土壤生态系统的影响,在总结当前研究的基础上,为未来的土壤微塑料研究提供方向和思路。

农田生态系统碳源/汇时空演变因素分析——以黑龙江省为例

文章基于黑龙江省农资投入、农作物播种面积等数据,采用LMDI分解模型,对2008—2021年该省农田生态系统碳源/汇量进行测算。结果表明:①黑龙江省农田生态系统碳排放量呈快速增长后缓慢下降的态势,其中稻田种植产生的CH4导致碳排放量占比最高,为59.66%;碳吸收量总体呈上升态势,年均增长率为3.85%,其中玉米和水稻增幅较大。②从空间变化来看,单位播种面积碳排放量呈中东部高于其他地区的分布格局,单位播种面积碳吸收量呈东部、南部、西部高于北部的分布格局。③对碳源/汇影响因素进行分析可知,提升农业生态效率、优化农业生产结构、控制劳动力规模可有效降低碳排放;碳汇系数、碳汇技术水平对碳吸收量有促进作用,未来可强化精准管理、提升智能化农业效率,增强碳汇能力。

近70年来梁子湖水生态环境演变

文章结合文献资料以及监测数据,对梁子湖水生态环境的演变过程进行了系统梳理。分析表明,江湖阻隔及闸坝的人为调控改变了梁子湖原有的水文节律。20世纪80年代以前,梁子湖水质良好;1986—2004年期间水质年季、年内波动显著,超标时有发生;2005—2010年,水质有所改善,但自2010以来,梁子湖富营养化趋势明显,并已由贫营养演变为中营养-轻度富营养的状态。水生态系统退化趋势明显,浮游生物及底栖动物优势物种由清洁种转变为耐污种,夏季蓝藻水华风险增高,软体动物大量消失,沉水植物衰退严重,鱼类物种数减少且小型化趋势明显。水文节律的破坏、污染物的累积、渔业生产活动的影响及洪水导致的持续高水位等是驱动梁子湖水生态环境演变的主要因素。梁子湖水生态环境治理需从污染源控制、生境改善、鱼类种群结构优化等几个方面综合考虑、长远规划,最终恢复梁子湖的清水稳定状态。

Effects of an ecological conservation and restoration project in the Three-River Source Region, China

The first-stage of an ecological conservation and restoration project in the Three-River Source Region（TRSR）, China, has been in progress for eight years. However, because the ecological effects of this project remain unknown, decision making for future project implementation is hindered. Thus, in this study, we developed an index system to evaluate the effects of the ecological restoration project, by integrating field observations, remote sensing, and process-based models. Effects were assessed using trend analyses of ecosystem structures and services. Results showed positive trends in the TRSR since the beginning of the project, but not yet a return to the optima of the 1970 s. Specifically, while continued degradation in grassland has been initially contained, results are still far from the desired objective, ‘grassland coverage increasing by an average of 20%–40%＇. In contrast, wetlands and water bodies have generally been restored, while the water conservation and water supply capacity of watersheds have increased. Indeed, the volume of water conservation achieved in the project meets the objective of a 1.32 billion m^3 increase. The effects of ecological restoration inside project regions was more significant than outside, and, in addition to climate change projects, we concluded that the implementation of ecological conservation and restoration projects has substantially contributed to vegetation restoration. Nevertheless, the degradation of grasslands has not been fundamentally reversed, and to date the project has not prevented increasing soil erosion. In sum, the effects and challenges of this first-stage project highlight the necessity of continuous and long-term ecosystem conservation efforts in this region.