Ecological service evaluation: An empirical study on the central Loess plateau, China

Abstract

This research using the Net Primary Production (NPP), grain yield, and rainfall to dynamically revised the unit area Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) equivalent factor in the Loess Plateau. A dynamic evaluation model of the Loess Plateau ecosystem service value was established to evaluate the ESV as well as spatial and temporal dynamic evolution characteristics. From 1990 to 2015, the dynamic degree of ecological land in the study area was 8.867%. Apart from paddy fields, dry land, and deserts, the transfer rates showed an increasing trend. Bare land was converted into other land use types at an increasing rate, while forest areas increased slowly and cultivated areas first increased and then decreased. Grassland areas only slightly decreased, while wetland and water areas remained relatively stable. From 1990 to 2015, the ESV fluctuated largely, albeit with an overall improvement. The ecosystem service value showed an obvious spatial heterogeneity, with higher values in the south compared to the north of the Loess Plateau.