Work

Impact of Specialized Cultivation Evolution on Ecosystem Services in Anxi Tea Gardens

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The specialization of tea gardens represents a significant pathway to enhancing the international competitiveness of agriculture. However, it may also disrupt the supply–demand balance of ecosystem services. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the specialized tea zone of Anxi as a case study. Using the InVEST model, we quantitatively assessed four key ecosystem services between 1990 and 2020: carbon storage, habitat quality, water yield, and soil conservation. The findings reveal that tea gardens perform relatively well in terms of carbon storage and habitat quality. However, their capacity for water conservation is limited, and soil conservation is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Dynamic transitions between tea gardens and forests have exerted considerable influence on changes in ecosystem services, with policies and practices aimed at converting tea plantations back to forest demonstrating a positive role in ecological restoration. Finally, guided by the principles of nature-based solutions, this study proposes targeted strategies to provide scientific support and practical references for sustainable development in specialized agricultural regions.

Source: Agriculture

DOI: 10.3390/agriculture15222334

Authors: Yongqiang Ma, Tiejun Wen, Yujie Liao, Sunbowen Zhang, Shuisheng Fan

Institutions: Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Land Use and Ecosystem Services

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137