Integrating ecological importance and risk for restoration zoning and ecological water demand in the Shiyang river basin
Abstract Ecosystems in arid inland river basins provide critical ecological functions while facing multiple ecological risks, necessitating comprehensive protection and restoration strategies that balance conservation and restoration efforts. Establishing ecological zones based on functional importa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14203-9 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Ecosystems in arid inland river basins provide critical ecological functions while facing multiple ecological risks, necessitating comprehensive protection and restoration strategies that balance conservation and restoration efforts. Establishing ecological zones based on functional importance and risk assessment is imperative. Water resources sustain economic development and ecosystem stability in arid regions, making rational ecological water allocation essential for restoration initiatives. This study examines the Shiyang River Basin, establishing a technical framework for delineating mountain, oasis, and desert systems. We quantify spatiotemporal patterns of ecological importance and risk, delineate protection and restoration zones, and calculate ecological water requirements to propose targeted management strategies. Results demonstrate: (1) The study area exhibits distinct southwest-northeast differentiation, with mountain, oasis, and desert systems predominantly represented by mountain and desert systems. (2) Ecosystem service importance displays “southwest-high, northeast-low” spatial patterns, increasing from 12.66 to 15.50 during the study period. (3) Ecological risk levels increase progressively across mountain, oasis, and desert systems, rising overall from 3.84 to 3.90, with oasis systems showing the most pronounced increases. (4) Based on ecological importance and risk assessment results, grid-scale ecological protection and restoration zones align closely with mountain-oasis-desert characteristics, providing clear management orientation. (5) Total ecological water requirements amount to 340.43 billion m³, displaying “south-high, north-low” patterns. Ecological core zones, ecological restoration zones, and wilderness protection zones demonstrate relatively high total ecological water requirements, while ecological set-aside zones and ecological buffer zones exhibit relatively high per-unit-area ecological water demands. Grid-scale zoning and water requirement calculations facilitate efficient ecological management in inland river basins, advancing ecological civilization and sustainable development in arid regions. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |