Forest governance and economic values of forest ecosystem services in Vietnam

Forest ecosystems deliver valuable services to humanity. However, many forests are being degraded and their services have been undervalued. The main problem lies in the inadequate institutional arrangements for forest governance. This paper aims to assess the effects of alternative forest governance arrangements on the provision and economic values of forest ecosystem services (FES) in Vietnam. The study presents a framework for mapping land use and land cover (LULC) change stemming from actual and hypothetical changes in forest governance regimes, quantifies the resulting changes in the provision of FES, and estimates the associated economic values. In the context of the study site in the North Western uplands of Vietnam, we test three alternative forest governance scenarios: business as usual, with a dominant government role; a community-based governance regime; and a private, individual-based forestry governance regime. Scenarios are based quite closely on the way these regimes are (or might be expected to be) implemented in Vietnam. For each forest governance scenario, we map LULC changes based on land suitability analysis and transition likelihood for the period 2010 − 2020. The resulting maps are used as inputs into the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs) model, which is used to estimate the quantity of three specific FES: carbon storage/sequestration, sediment yield, and water yield. We apply economic valuation methods to value these services: the social cost of carbon is used to estimate the economic values of carbon storage/sequestration; the cost of removing sediment deposited in reservoirs is applied for valuing the reduction of sediment yield, and the residual value of water supply for hydropower generation is used for valuing water yield. The results show that forest governance regimes have a significant effect not only on forest LULC, but also on the quantity and values of FES derived from forests. The FES are differentially affected by alternative forest governance regimes: some FES increase in quantity and value under some governance regimes and decrease under others. Of the three forest governance regimes examined, there is no one regime that will always be ‘better’ than the others in terms of provisioning all considered FES. For the specific context of Vietnam, we find that the private forest governance scenario is inferior to the community-based governance scenario, as an alternative to the current state-based governance. Because our results pertain to the scenarios as constructed, rather than generally to broad categories of governance regimes, there remains the possibility that regimes can be constructed that outperform all of those examined here.     

Assessment of land use and land cover changes and valuation of carbon stocks in the Sergipe semiarid region,Brazil: 1992–2030

The semiarid region in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, approximately 11,000 km², has experienced high deforestation rates in the last decades, which ultimately contribute to global climatic changes. The valuation of ecosystem services of CO₂ sequestration can support definition of environmental policies to decrease deforestation in that region. This study aimed to assess land use and land cover changes in the Sergipe semiarid region between 1992 and 2017 by applying remotely sensed data and technics; simulate the land use and land cover changes between 2017 and 2030 by applying a cellular automaton model, by assuming current land use trends (Business as Usual – BAU) as a reference scenario, and a more conservative scenario (Protected Forest – PF), in which was assumed an effective enforcement of the Brazilian Forest Code established in 2012; simulate the carbon stocks by 2017 assuming the BAU and PF scenarios by 2030, and estimate the Carbon balance between the 2030 and 2017 scenarios; and estimate the economic valuation of carbon emission and sequestration by using the InVEST software. The results showed that agriculture (cropped lands) was main driver of the landscape changes in the study area, which increased 14% by 2017, a net increase of 1494.45 km². The results showed that the total Carbon emissions would reach 736,900 Mg CO₂-eq by assuming the BAU scenario, which would increase the cost of opportunity up to US$ 17.7 million and a social carbon cost varying between US$ 10.3 and US$ 30.2 million. The restoration of the permanent preservation areas could contribute to increase Carbon sequestration up to 481,900 Mg CO₂-eq by 2030, which is equivalent cost of US$ 11.6 million. The natural landscape in the Sergipe semiarid region was strongly affected by deforestation activities occurred between 1992 and 2017. It requires, therefore, effective actions to support and promote restoration of degraded areas. The forested areas within the Sergipe semiarid region were the most affected type of vegetation because of expansion of agricultural fields soil exposures (Exposed Land). Environmental assessments based on scenarios and economic valuations can provide crucial information to support policy and decision makers to improve strategies for environmental management and conservation.     

Prospective evaluation of the impact of land use change on ecosystem services in the Ourika watershed,Morocco

Land use change at the local stage affects the flow of ecosystem services at all levels. Analyzing the causes of land use change such as anthropogenic activities in the case of the Ourika watershed will facilitate sustainable policies. A decision-making tool, InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade Offs) was used to quantify three ecosystem services and to generate three spatially explicit land use scenarios (trend, development and conservation) with expert stakeholders and the local population. The results indicate that forest expansion under the conservation scenario increased carbon sequestration and sediment retention by 34.29 % and 7.17 % but decreased water yield by 0.75 %. Comparably, a combination of forest and cropland expansion under the trend scenario generated a moderate increase by 8.4 % and 0.98 % but a negligible decrease of 0.09 %. A decline in the forests under the development scenario caused an improvement in the water yield by 0.12 % but a decrease in carbon sequestration and sediment retention by 6.06 % and 0.88 % respectively. A combination of forests and croplands through agroforestry systems enhances the provision of all the three ecosystem services. Community-based ecosystem and land management is the best way to improve ecosystem services at the local level.     

Tendency of land reclamation in coastal areas of Shanghai from 1998 to 2015

Coastal land reclamation is one of the major human interventions in the coastal areas, it is a process undergo in many parts of the world. Land reclamation supplies land for development with urgent needs for coastal cities, and creates the opportunity for rapid urbanization, however, it also influences the integrity of the coastal ecosystem and results in a decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services. Over-exploitation and unreasonable use of coastal land has been a major issue and became a threat to ecological security in China. This paper analyzed the coastal land expansion and utilization process from 1980 to 2015 in Shanghai through remote sensing image processing and field investigations. The process of land reclamation in Shanghai and the effect of land use transformation on natural wetlands and the quality of the natural habitat are explored by analyzing land use and land cover change and modeling ecosystem services change by Integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs (InVEST) model. The results show that the urban ‘ocean sprawl’ in Shanghai has increased by ∼10 % from 1980 to 2015 which transformed natural wetlands into construction land significantly. Despite strict control over the quality of reclamation projects and appropriate compensation with artificial wetlands, the natural habitat damage caused by reclamation increases exponentially in the past few decades. Recently the policies have changed from encouraging human reclamation to prohibit all kinds of land reclamation programs from national to local scales. It has major policy implications for future coastal habitat conservation. This paper gives an overview of the land reclamation in Shanghai and its impact on natural habitat that can foster the related policies to promote healthier and more reasonable urbanization during the economic transformation.     

基于InVEST-MCR复合模型的城市 绿色空间生境网络格局构建研究

城市化进程的不断加快影响了城市绿色空间的生境 质量,城市生物多样性受到极大威胁。构建城市范围内的多物 种综合生境网络能够整合现有的城市绿色空间格局,促进生物 多样性保护与发育。以北京市丰台区为例,面向生物多样性保 护与城市绿色空间发展提出了基于InVEST-MCR复合模型的 城市绿色空间生境网络格局构建方法体系：即以生境类型为导 向选取区域内生物多样性保护的焦点物种,通过大数据选取焦 点物种的栖息源地,基于InVEST模型生境质量模块选取潜在 栖息地(汇)并生成生境网络构建阻力面,采用最小累计阻力 模型(MCR)构建丰台区城市绿色空间生境网络。研究结果明 确了丰台区的生境质量现状与未来生境网络发展脉络,为城市 绿色空间生境网络构建提供了新方法,为丰台区绿地空间格局 规划与生物多样性保护提供了参考框架。     

基于InVEST模型的太湖流域水源涵养服务价值评估

在气候变化与人类活动共同影响下,全球水生态系统现状不容乐观。以太湖流域为例,采用In VEST模型,动态评估了太湖流域水源涵养服务价值。结果显示:太湖流域2000年水源涵养总量为320.50亿m3,高于2010年的314.18亿m3,相应经济价值分别为1 958.48亿元和1 919.86亿元;太湖流域2000年与2010年的水源涵养量在空间分布特征上基本保持一致,均为:Ⅷ区Ⅰ区Ⅸ区Ⅲ区Ⅴ区Ⅵ区Ⅳ区Ⅶ区Ⅱ区。进一步剖析对影响水源涵养服务价值变化的驱动机制,研究表明:气候因素以及土地利用/覆被因素直接影响了太湖流域水源涵养总量与空间分布规律,而社会经济特征则是影响太湖流域水源涵养服务价值的间接因素。     

基于生境质量的绿洲城镇增长边界划定--以黑河中游地区为例

绿洲城镇是人类活动最集中、人地关系最敏感的区域,也是"三生空间"(生产、生活与生态空间)矛盾最严重的区域。划定城镇增长边界是控制城镇无序蔓延,引导城镇空间有序发展的一种技术手段和政策工具,是国家和地方空间治理体系的重要组成部分。以黑河中游地区绿洲城镇为研究对象,提出了一种基于生境质量的绿洲城镇增长边界的划定方法:首先,基于InVEST模型评估绿洲生境质量;其次,将绿洲生态适宜性评价结果嵌入SLEUTH模型,模拟城镇增长边界;最后,以土地利用总体规划下达的城镇用地面积为控制规模,并结合生境质量评估结果对模拟边界进行修正,最终划定城镇增长边界。结果表明:划定边界内总面积为104.67 km^2,剩余可建设用地面积为22.14 km^2,以低等级生境质量为主,占边界内新增城镇用地的66.98%。绿洲平原区和山前洪积扇区的城镇增长空间较小,剩余可建设用地比例分别为9.96%、24.57%;绿洲边缘区的城镇产业园区空间增长潜力较大,剩余可建设用地比例为52.53%。该划定方法能够有效解决城镇发展与生态环境之间的矛盾,对绿洲城镇增长边界划定具有重要的参考价值。     

基于InVEST模型的昌黎县土地利用变化对生境质量的影响研究

[目的]研究土地利用变化引起的生态效应已成为生态学的核心内容,评估土地利用变化引起的生境质量时空变化可以为区域生态规划和土地规划提供科学依据。[方法]文章以昌黎县为例。采用InVEST模型中的生境质量模块评估昌黎县生境质量,根据生境质量指数将生境划分为差、较差、一般、良好和优等5个等级,同时分析土地利用及景观格局的变化对生境质量产生的影响。[结果](1)2010~2015年,昌黎县土地利用变化主要特点为耕地资源大量减少,建设用地迅速扩张,整体景观的斑块数量及斑块密度增加,蔓延度指数减少,说明研究区整体破碎化程度增加,景观均匀度指数和多样性指数的增加,说明各景观组分所占面积比例差异变小,分布的均匀程度增大;(2)两期生境质量格局呈现为西部沿河地带和东北部区域高,生境质量指数大于0.6,中北部的昌黎镇以及距离城镇较近或是位于主要交通网连接处的区域生境质量较低,生境质量指数低于0.2,昌黎县其他地区的生境质量指数主要在0.4~0.6之间;(3)昌黎县生境质量整体处于一般水平,2010和2015年生境质量得分在[0.4,0.6)之间的面积分别占全县45.46%和44.69%,2015年生境质量得分区间为[0.2,0.4)、[0.4,0.6)、[0.6,0.8)和[0.8,1.0)的斑块生境面积较2010年分别减少了0.72%、0.77%、0.24%和0.13%,只有最差等级[0-0.2)得分区间的比例较2010年增加1.87%,说明昌黎县整体生境质量2015年较2010年有所下降。[结论]研究结果可以为制定合理的土地管理政策提供科学依据,同时对生物多样性的保护具有一定积极的作用。     

Quantifying spatial supply-demand mismatches in ecosystem services provides insights for land-use planning

Global trends in land-use changes, including urbanization and abandonment of rural areas, have important repercussions for the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we assessed and mapped the supply and demand of three ES (water provision, climate regulation, and outdoor recreation) along an urban-rural gradient in the Madrid region (Spain) from 1990 to 2012. We mapped ES supply, based on land use/land cover (LULC) data, using InVEST models and complementary methods, and ES demand, using population density and demand indicators. Then, we explored spatial supply-demand mismatches at a municipality spatial scale. Despite an increase in ES supply in some areas, a general increase in ES demand led to increasing dependence by the Madrid metropolitan area on outlying areas. We found that the number of municipalities that exhibited mismatches between the supply and demand in ES increased throughout the study period, due mainly to urban sprawl. Our results suggest the need for comprehensive land-use planning at the regional scale, taking into account that many ES flows reach beyond municipality boundaries. Finally, we discuss the utility of analyzing spatial mismatches in the supply and demand of ES for land-use planning and decision-making.     

基于CA-Markov和InVEST模型的土地 利用格局变化对生境的影响研究——以北京 浅山区为例

在城市扩张蔓延和由此引起的生境变化过程中,研 究生境随土地利用/覆被变化(Land Use/Cover Change, LUCC)的适应性时空演变及预测已成为生态学的核心内容。 浅山区作为山区与平原的过渡地带,是天然生态屏障和生态敏 感地区,评估土地利用变化所引起的生境质量时空变化对于 浅山生态规划意义重大。以北京市浅山区为例,基于1999、 2017年的Landsat TM/ETM+遥感数据进行ENVI解译,并 采用CA-Markov模型模拟北京浅山区2035年自然增长情景 下的景观格局发展趋势。后结合InVest模型,评价3个时间下 的生境质量和退化度,以及1999—2017、2017—2035年 时间段下的生境稀缺度。结果表明：1999—2017年,浅山 区的景观空间愈加趋于碎片化,农田和建设用地趋于向浅山内 部扩张,预测2017—2035年仍将沿袭这一趋势,但变化速 度有所减缓。