Basin ecological function zoning based on gross ecosystem product

Area of Science:

• Ecological economics
• Environmental science
• Ecosystem assessment

Background:

• Coordinating economic development and ecological protection requires scientific zoning.
• Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting provides a framework for assessing ecosystem service value.
• Previous studies have not comprehensively integrated GEP accounting with ecological function zoning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a comprehensive GEP accounting index system for terrestrial ecosystems.
• To conduct ecological function zoning using principal component analysis based on GEP.
• To analyze the spatiotemporal trends of GEP and its components in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and Yangtze River Basin (YZRB).

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive GEP accounting index system for terrestrial ecosystems.
• Application of principal component analysis for ecological function zoning.
• Spatiotemporal analysis of GEP, Ecosystem Product Value (EPV), Ecosystem Regulation Value (ERV), and Ecosystem Conservation Value (ECV) from 2005 to 2020.

Main Results:

• GEP in the YRB increased from 14,201.29 to 28,702.22 billion yuan; in the YZRB, it rose from 23,731.23 to 48,866.62 billion yuan (2005-2020).
• EPV, ERV, and ECV generally showed an upward trend across both basins.
• ECV exhibited a rapid increase in the YRB's upstream and the YZRB's midstream regions.

Conclusions:

• GEP accounting scientifically reflects the value of ecosystem service functions.
• The findings provide a basis for improving ecological compensation mechanisms.
• This approach guides the integration of natural capital into ecological industrialization.