Trade-offs, synergies and driving pathways between tourism cultural ecosystem service and multiple ecosystem services in ecological functional zone

Abstract

Tourism cultural ecosystem service (TCES) is crucial for promoting sustainable development in ecological functional zones, which face the dual challenge of conservation and livelihoods. However, the spatial and temporal interactions between TCES and other ecosystem services (ESs) are not yet fully understood. This study aims to address this gap by quantifying the trade-offs between TCES and five key ESs, while also identifying the impact pathways of these trade-offs. The Taihang Mountains were selected as a case study, using multisource data and structural equation modeling for analysis. The results indicated that between 2000 and 2020, the area of living space around scenic spots increased by 59.22 %, primarily due to encroachments into production and ecological spaces, leading to greater fragmentation. During this period, TCES, food production (FP), carbon storage (CS), and soil retention (SR) all increased by 7.14 %, 31.79 %, 78.68 %, and 26.13 %, respectively. However, water yield (WY) and habitat quality (HQ) decreased by 5.44 % and 0.33 %, respectively. TCES showed significant synergies with HQ, SR, and CS, especially in the southeastern part of the study area. In contrast, trade-offs were observed between FP and WY, primarily in the northern region. Notably, in 2010, revenue from scenic spots had a significant impact on the TCES–FP trade-off, as it intensified ecological space fragmentation and expanded production areas. By 2020, however, the level of development at scenic spots became a key factor in fostering synergies between TCES and CS, driven by increased landscape diversity and further fragmentation of living spaces. These findings provide important insights for the sustainable management and planning of landscapes in ecological functional areas, emphasizing the role of TCES in balancing conservation with development.