EFFECT OF TEMPORAL LAND USE/LAND COVER CHANGES ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUE IN COASTAL AREA OF CHINA: THE CASE OF SU-XI-CHANG REGION

Abstract

Providing goods and services, while maintaining ecosystem service functions and biodiversity that built up their sustainable supply to support human welfare, is one of the great challenges of our time. This study examined the dynamics of land use land cover (LULC) changes, temporal variation of ecosystem service value (ESV), the threatened ecosystem services function in Su-Xi-Chang region, and explore the consequences of unsustainable use of land resources on ESV provision. Remote sensing applications were used to evaluate changes in LULC, and an evaluation method for ESV based on land cover change was applied in 2000, 2005 and 2010. Our study investigated that change in ESV was caused mainly due to the expansion of construction land, which was increased by 88% during the study period. Meanwhile, ESV dropped from 57.1775 x 10 9 CNY in 2000 to 53.7585 x 10 9 CNY in 2010. Ecosystem service function for food provision was the most critically affected followed by climate and gas regulation functions respectively. Waste treatment and water supply were the two largest services functions provided by ecosystems of the area. The expansion of construction land, which have due impact on LULC change, is likely responsible for the overall decline in 3.4190 billion CNY ESV of the region. As they have showed the highest ESV and greatest degradation during the study period, protection of farmland and water bodies should be paid due attention by regional land use planning and policy making offices. As a result, sustainable use of land resources and mitigation of the declining ESV of the region will be realized.