Ecological restoration zoning and strategy based on ecosystem service supply and demand relationships: A case study of the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

Investigating the correlation between the matching of ecosystem services (ESs) supply and demand and the level of coordination is crucial for the systematic delineation and management of ecological restoration zones, thus ensuring ecological security and advancing regional sustainability. This study focused primarily on the Yellow River Basin, employing the InVEST model and formula calculations to evaluate ESs supply and demand. Furthermore, Bivariate Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis examined the interplay between ESs supply and demand, while an index of supply–demand coordination assessed ecological sustainability. Drawing from these analyses, ecological restoration zones were demarcated within the basin, accompanied by tailored optimization strategies that accounted for human demands, natural resource dynamics, and regional development patterns. The results indicate that: (1) In 2020, varied geographic distributions of ESs supply and demand were observed, with higher overall supply in the southern and central regions and lower supply in the north, while demand was predominantly elevated in the southeast and subdued in the northwest. (2) There was a clear imbalance between ESs supply and demand, indicating severe imbalances in the north and fundamental coordination in the south. (3) Considering the characteristics of supply–demand matching and coordination, the Yellow River Basin is divided into five ecological restoration zones for targeted management: Ecological restoration zone, Ecological protection zone, Ecological recovery zone, Ecological balance zone, and Ecological barrier zone. Differential ecological restoration pathways are proposed to provide scientific support for targeted ecological restoration practices.