Title: Examining the potential impact of land use/cover changes on the NPP ecosystem services of Yan'an region of China: a scenario-based analysis

Authors: Jing Li; Lili Wu

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China; College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, Shaanxi, China ' College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, Shaanxi, China

Abstract: Remote sensing-derived LUC maps for 2009, GIS-based LUC change model, and ecosystem service value of NPP were used to facilitate the analysis. The results forests have significantly higher NPP values than farmlands, whose NPP is approximately equal to that of brushlands. The scenario-based LUC change analysis revealed that if the urban LUC change pattern continues, the total ecosystem service value of NPP will also change, especially if the forest cover is not fully protected and conserved. Our results highlighted that under the great pressure of urbanisation, there is a need to strengthen the proper implementation of policies in order to maintain and improve ecosystem services. Although there are limitations to the estimated ecosystem service value of NPP of Yan'an to be taken into account in future studies, the magnitude of the estimated changes in the LUC is substantial.

Keywords: ecosystem services; NPP values; net primary production; land use patterns; land use change; scenario-based analysis; China; land cover changes; remote sensing; GIS; geographic information systems; forests; farmland; brushlands; urban land use; forest cover; urbanisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.072655

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.8 No.3, pp.319 - 334

Received: 24 Dec 2013
Accepted: 10 Apr 2014
Published online: 23 Oct 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article