Evaluation of coordinated development between land use intensity and ecosystem services in ecologically vulnerable region: A case study of Hexi corridor, northwest China

Human activities directly affect the ecosystem service function and then affect the coordination between regional land use and ecological service. As one of the most obvious representatives of human activities, the development and change of land use intensity (LUI) also deeply affects the ecosystem service ability. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the coordinated development between LUI and ecosystem service capacity for making a reasonable decision and regional development policy. This paper quantified the ecosystem service function in the Hexi region from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model and analyzed the coupling coordination relationship between ecosystem services (ESs) and LUI using the coupled coordination degree model (CCD) based on calculating LUI. The results showed that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the LUI in the Hexi region decreased from southeast to northwest in space and increased first and then decreased in time. (2) The comprehensive ecosystem service index (CESI) of the Hexi region showed a decreasing trend from 2000 to 2020, with large fluctuations, and its stability needs to be enhanced. CESI showed a spatial distribution pattern of high in the south and low in the north because of the climate conditions and land use patterns. (3) The CCD between LUI and CESI transformed from a reluctant coordination level to a moderate level of coordination and gradually improved over time from 2000 to 2020. The results can provide scientific references for the rational utilization of land resources, the protection of the ecological environment, and sustainable development for similar eco-fragile regions.