Ecosystem service value evaluation method for local-oriented rural water ecological governance: A case study on Shuiku Village in Shanghai

Abstract

Ecosystem service assessments play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of ecosystems in human life and guiding regional planning processes. This study examines the significance of rural ecosystems and their diverse ecological services, ranging from agricultural productivity to water purification and esthetic value. At present, the ecological restoration of rural riparian zones in China mainly relies on engineering standards as reference guidelines, lacking responses to surrounding land use patterns (including diverse ecological functional requirements) at the planning and design level. This paper proposes 17 assessment indicators for ecosystem services based on a case analysis of Shuiku Village in Shanghai. Through the evaluation of the supply-demand relationship of ecosystem services in the water network rural riparian zone, the paper suggests feasible restoration approaches based on a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological status to address the diverse needs of rural water ecosystems. The result indicated that using an ecosystem services evaluation framework can provide more precise analysis at a small scale.