Optimizing ecological restoration patterns and types in the Qilian Mountains: Balancing local, regional, and global benefits
6 affiliations
- 1College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China; Engineering Research Center of Ecological Safety and Conservation in, Beijing, Xiong'an New Area of MOE, Tianjin, Hebei, China
- 2School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, 100089, China
- 3School of Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, 100089, China
- 4College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China; Corresponding author. College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, No. 180, Wusi East Road, Lianchi District, Baoding City, Hebei Province, China.
- 5College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China
- 6State Key Laboratory of Wetland Conservation and Restoration, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Corresponding author. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai Street, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
Abstract
While extensive ecological restoration has been implemented in the Qilian Mountains (QLM), the lack of systematic planning may compromise restoration effectiveness. In this study, we quantified seven key ecosystem services (ESs), including food production (FP), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), sand fixation (SF), carbon sequestration (CS), habitat quality (HQ), and tourism (TS), and analyzed their trade-offs and synergies. We further identified potential restoration areas and restoration types, developed restoration scenarios based on ES relationships, and determined the priority restoration patterns under each scenario. The results showed strong synergies between FP and TS, as well as between CS and HQ, whereas WY, SC, and SF exhibited weak correlations with other ESs. Based on these relationships, five restoration scenarios were established: Scenario 1 prioritized local ESs (FP and TS); Scenarios 2–4 emphasized regional ESs (WY, SC, and SF, respectively); and Scenario 5 focused on global ESs (CS and HQ). Scenario 1 substantially reduced HQ and regional ESs, whereas the regional ES-oriented scenarios achieved a more balanced enhancement of multiple ESs. Among them, Scenario 3 improved SC while simultaneously enhancing CS and HQ. Scenario 5 maximized CS, HQ, and total ES value, but significantly reduced local ESs. These findings indicate that restoration strategies should be tailored to stakeholder priorities and regional development goals. Overall, this study provides practical guidance for ecological restoration planning and contributes to optimizing restoration patterns and enhancing ES provision in the QLM.
Related
- Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Landscape Patterns and Ecological Risk Under Changing Human Activity in the Qilian Mountains
- Identifying the thresholds of site condition and stand structure for optimizing multiple ecosystem services in the Liupan Mountains, Northwest China
- A process-based framework for diagnosing floodplain ecological functioning to guide riverine wetland restoration
- Changepoint detection methods as a practical tool for assessment of ecological restoration
- Mechanisms and patterns of snow depth and land surface temperature interactions in arid mountains: coupling coordination and lagged responses across Xinjiang, China
BibTeX
@article{teng2026optimizing,
title = {{Optimizing ecological restoration patterns and types in the Qilian Mountains: Balancing local, regional, and global benefits}},
author = {Yanmin Teng and Chao Wang and Hanshuo Liu and Yangjian Zhang and Hua Liu and Jinyan Zhan},
journal = {Environmental and Sustainability Indicators},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.indic.2026.101588},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2026.101588},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optimizing ecological restoration patterns and types in the Qilian Mountains: Balancing local, regional, and global benefits
AU - Yanmin Teng
AU - Chao Wang
AU - Hanshuo Liu
AU - Yangjian Zhang
AU - Hua Liu
AU - Jinyan Zhan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
DO - 10.1016/j.indic.2026.101588
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2026.101588
AB - While extensive ecological restoration has been implemented in the Qilian Mountains (QLM), the lack of systematic planning may compromise restoration effectiveness. In this study, we quantified seven key ecosystem services (ESs), including food production (FP), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), sand fixation (SF), carbon sequestration (CS), habitat quality (HQ), and tourism (TS), and analyzed their trade-offs and synergies. We further identified potential restoration areas and restoration types, developed restoration scenarios based on ES relationships, and determined the priority restoration patterns under each scenario. The results showed strong synergies between FP and TS, as well as between CS and HQ, whereas WY, SC, and SF exhibited weak correlations with other ESs. Based on these relationships, five restoration scenarios were established: Scenario 1 prioritized local ESs (FP and TS); Scenarios 2–4 emphasized regional ESs (WY, SC, and SF, respectively); and Scenario 5 focused on global ESs (CS and HQ). Scenario 1 substantially reduced HQ and regional ESs, whereas the regional ES-oriented scenarios achieved a more balanced enhancement of multiple ESs. Among them, Scenario 3 improved SC while simultaneously enhancing CS and HQ. Scenario 5 maximized CS, HQ, and total ES value, but significantly reduced local ESs. These findings indicate that restoration strategies should be tailored to stakeholder priorities and regional development goals. Overall, this study provides practical guidance for ecological restoration planning and contributes to optimizing restoration patterns and enhancing ES provision in the QLM.
SN - 2665-9727
ER -