ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Land Use Dynamics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1648758
Assessing Ecosystem Service Value Dynamics and Compensation Gaps in Key Ecological Zones of Xizang: Towards Sustainable Plateau Development
Provisionally accepted
Lei Li1,2*
Qianqian Du3- 1Sophia University, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
- 2Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, China
- 3Tibet University, Lhasa, China
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Amid accelerating global urbanization and climate change, regions with fragile ecological environments face increasing challenges in balancing ecological conservation with socio-economic development. The Xizang Autonomous Region, serving as a vital ecological security barrier in China and Asia, offers a unique context for evaluating Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) and ecological compensation strategies. This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of land use change and ESV dynamics in key ecological function zones in Xizang from 2000 to 2020. Using the value equivalent factor method combined with high-resolution remote sensing data and field validation, we analyze spatial and temporal trends in the ESV of grasslands, wetlands, and water bodies. The findings indicate a "U-shaped" trend in grassland coverage, the most dynamic changes occurring in wetland areas, and a decline in snow and barren lands attributed to global warming and intensified human activities. Despite their limited area, water bodies contribute significantly to overall ESV, particularly in terms of ecological regulation. An ESV-to-GDP ratio approach reveals that the northwestern Qiangtang Plateau desert ecological zone should be prioritized for ecological compensation. The theoretical compensation amount in 2020 is estimated at approximately 1.6 trillion CNY, highlighting a substantial gap between ecological service provision and actual fiscal transfers. The results provide a scientific basis for optimizing ecological compensation schemes and promoting regionally balanced sustainable development in high-altitude ecological zones.
Keywords: Regional sustainable development, resource management, ecosystem service value, Ecological compensation, Ecosystem dynamics
Received: 17 Jun 2025; Accepted: 30 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li and Du. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lei Li, Sophia University, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
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