Abstract:
Ecological protection and restoration of territorial space can be one of the most important schemes to maintain the national patterns of ecological security. It is a high demand to scientifically zone and manage the key areas for the protection and restoration, particularly for the regional ecosystem function and sustainable development. Taking Shanghang County in Fujian Province of China as a typical study area, this study aims to construct a multi-dimensional ecosystem measurement framework of "Ecosystem Importance-Ecosystem Fragility-Ecosystem service value" using an integrated ecosystem integrity, system, and benefits. Multi-dimensional characteristics of the regional ecosystem were then analyzed to determine the relationship of trade-offs and synergy between the measure factors. At last, the spatial clustering method (Grouping analysis) was used to delineate the ecological protection and restoration space. The zoning management and control strategies were also proposed using the spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem structure characteristics of each zone. The results showed that: 1) There was the strong spatial heterogeneity in the ecosystem, indicating a spatial differentiation ecosystem pattern with the high importance, low fragility, and high service value. 2) There were the synergistic and tradeoff relationships among all ecosystem measure factors. All synergistic relationships were found in the comprehensive importance, fragility, and service value. As such, the high overlap was triggered between the ecosystem conservation and restoration areas. 3) An optimal number of clusters was determined as six, according to the CONTAG and COHESION indexes with different number of clusters. There were also the strongest cohesion degree and connectivity among groups, which were conducive to the stable and healthy development of the ecosystem. Six zonings were divided into: the III-I-V (Importance level III- Fragility level I-Value V), III-III-V (Importance level III- Fragility level III-Value V), III-II-V (Importance level III- Fragility level II-Value V), III-III-IV (Importance level III- Fragility level III-Value IV), II-III-I(Importance level II- Fragility level III-Value I), and IV-I-I (Importance level IV- Fragility level I-Value I). Among them, the zoning of III-I-V and III-II-V shared the large areas with the ecosystem functional bases for the regional development. The outstanding spatial heterogeneity was found in the composition of land cover types in each zoning. Particularly, the forest, shrub, cropland, and garden were the dominant land cover types. 4) A targeted and differentiated management was proposed for the environmental protection and restoration measures, according to the spatial distribution and internal structure of each zoning. After that, the study area was further divided into the ecological protection area (Ecological conservation, green development, and moderate development area), and ecological restoration area (ecological restoration, protection and restoration coordinated development area). Furthermore, the multi-dimensional ecosystem measurement "I-F-V" can be expected to identify the important ecosystems, the damaged areas of ecosystems, and integrate ecosystem services benefits. An emphasis was also made on the coordination of ecosystem protection and restoration costs, together with the development opportunities, when considering the integrity and systematism of ecosystems. Therefore, an effective assessment was achieved in the resilience and sustainability of ecosystems and economic activities, as well as the human well-being they support. Some recommendations can be also widely used in the ecosystem measurement, the ecological conservation and restoration. The findings can provide the insightful ideas and practical reference for the decision making on the protection, restoration, and ecological security pattern of territorial space.