Emergy analysis of the value of grassland ecosystem services in the Three Rivers Source Region

doi:10.11686/cyxb2015387

Abstract

Abstract: The Three Rivers Source Region is located in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and, considering the complexity and sensitivity of the area’s ecological system, it is important to comprehensively evaluate this region’s ecological services in order to be able to maintain and sustainably develop the Plateau environment. Combining sequence classification with emergy analysis, six indexes were selected to measure the 2001-2010 grassland system and to determine the value of ecosystem services in the Three Rivers Source Region. The results show that over the ten-year period the value of ecosystem services varied from 137.5 billion yuan/year to 178 billion yuan/year. From a cut-off point in 2006, the total value of ecological services rose continually. The value of ecological services varies by different grassland types. Rain tundra alpine meadow made up more than 99.5% of ecological value over the ten-year period, a result that reflects the fact that these meadows account for the largest area of all grassland types. The proportional contribution of each grassland type to the overall value of ecosystem services does not significantly change on a year-by-year basis. Of the various indicators of ecological value, the release of O₂ and fixed CO₂ hold the largest share, with the two combined accounting for some 90% of all value. The value of hay provided directly by the grassland ecosystem accounted for about 1% of the total, much lower than the contribution of other ecological services.

LI Lin, LIN Hui-Long, GAO Ya. Emergy analysis of the value of grassland ecosystem services in the Three Rivers Source Region[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(6): 34-41.

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