Assessment of forest food–water resources nexus and its utilization efficiency based on the Gaussian model

Abstract Forest resources are an important foundation for human survival and development, and their utilization and management are of great significance for sustainable development. Forests are important ecosystems that provide essential ecological services for human survival and development. Based on the Gaussian model, this article evaluates the grain and water resources in forest areas to explore the efficiency of forest resource utilization. By collecting and processing sample data from the forest areas of the Yangtze River Basin from October to December 2021, the food and water resources of the forest areas under different vegetation types and soil moisture content were obtained. The results indicate that the total amount of grain resources varies among different sample areas. The maximum weight is 6,000 kg and the minimum weight is 3,500 kg. The total amount of water resources varies among different sample areas, ranging from 600 to 2,000 m3.