Work

Exploring the matching patterns and driving mechanisms of ecosystem service supply–demand: a case study of the Zhengzhou metropolitan Area, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Balancing ecosystem service supply and demand (ESSD) is fundamental to ecological security, and understanding its driving mechanisms is critical for enhancing spatial resilience through coordinated regional resource allocation. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of five key ecosystem services (ESs):crop production (CP), carbon storage (CS), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), and habitat quality (HQ) in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area (ZZMA), focusing on their supply, demand, and supply-demand ratios (ESDRs).Machine learning models were employed to quantify the relative contributions of individual driving factors to each ESDR, while PLS-SEM was used to reveal the strength and pathways of influence among multidimensional drivers. Based on identified ESDR patterns, functional ecological zones were delineated, and corresponding governance strategies were proposed.The results revealed that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the supply of most ESs exhibited an overall increasing trend, except for WY and HQ, while demand increased across all services. ESDRs for CS, WY, and HQ declined, with CS and WY shifting from surplus to deficit, whereas SC and CP showed improvements.(2) Urbanization level, slope, Shannon's evenness index, and vegetation emerged as dominant drivers of the comprehensive ESDR (CESDR), with their influence showing notable spatial and temporal variation. Vegetation and landscape configuration predominantly acted as mediating variables in shaping ESSD dynamics.(3) Four functional ecological zones were delineated based on ESDR patterns, each accompanied by tailored governance strategies and development pathways. These findings provide a robust foundation for integrated ecological governance and regional development, aligning with national ecological civilization goals and informing sustainable spatial planning and risk management.

Source: Ecological Indicators

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114405

Authors: Siyuan Liang, Zizheng Zhang

Institution: Zhengzhou University

Language: English

Topic: Land Use and Ecosystem Services

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650