1.School of Ecology and Environment,Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded;Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education,Anhui Normal University,Wuhu,Anhui 241002,China
2.School of Geography and Tourism,Anhui Normal University,Wuhu,Anhui 241002,China
Objective The ecological barrier area of western Anhui serves as a critical ecological security conservation area in China. Investigating the relationship between land use and ecosystem service value (ESV) since 2000 is an important foundation for ensuring its ecological security function and a key factor in maintaining long-term regional sustainable development. Methods Based on land use data and socio-economic data from 2000 to 2020, this study employed the spatial analysis capabilities of the ArcMap platform, utilized land use dynamic degree and spatial transition matrix, and applied the equivalent factor method to estimate the ESV of the ecological barrier area of western Anhui. Furthermore, the ecological contribution rate and sensitivity index were calculated to reveal the intrinsic linkages between land use transition and ESV dynamics. Results (1) From 2000 to 2020, the land use transition characteristics in the ecological barrier area of western Anhui were primarily reflected in the conversion of cropland and forest land to construction land driven by urbanization, accompanied by a moderate increase in water body area attributable to ecological conservation policies. (2) The total ecosystem service value (ESV) of the ecological barrier area of western Anhui decreased by 0.15%, remaining generally stable. Traditional ecological land types such as cropland and forest land experienced persistent losses, while water bodies, owing to their high ecological value, played a critical compensatory role. However, this compensatory mechanism exhibited obvious vulnerability. (3) Spatially, the ESV displayed a distinct pattern of “high in the north and south, low in the surrounding areas”. High-value and medium-high-value zones were distributed around water bodies, whereas medium-value zones were mainly distributed around forest land. (4) Over the 20-year period, water bodies contributed the highest positive ecological contribution rate of 41.09%, representing the dominant contributing factor to regional ESV changes. ESV was most sensitive to variations in the value coefficients of water bodies and forest land. Conclusion The construction of the ecological security pattern in the ecological barrier area of western Anhui should shift from value compensation to spatial trade-off. Differentiated spatial management policies should be implemented, prioritizing the protection of highly sensitive areas such as water bodies and forests, so as to enhance the ecological barrier function of western Anhui.
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