Sustainability Research Reveals Decline in Ecosystem Services on China's Nearshore Islands

Strategic Insights -

As climate change, urbanization, and marine exploitation intensify, understanding nearshore island ecosystem services is crucial for ecological protection and sustainable development. A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Management mapped the spatiotemporal dynamics of six key ecosystem services across 295 nearshore Chinese islands, revealing significant declines in ecosystem services. The research provides a novel perspective on island spatial planning, promoting integrated management and sustainable development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that five out of six key ecosystem services (food production, water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage, and habitat quality) declined on most islands between 2000 and 2022, with an average decline of 64.03%.
  • The trade-off between water yield and habitat quality increased significantly, while the trade-off between food production and soil conservation weakened.
  • The synergy between soil conservation and carbon storage increased, with carbon storage exhibiting the most pronounced synergy with habitat quality.
  • The research classified 68.95% of nearshore islands as Ecological Protection Category, 19.05% as Agricultural Planting Category, and 12.00% as Production and Livelihood Category.
  • The study identified constraint patterns, such as the soil conservation-habitat quality trough-type, water yield-soil conservation linear-type, and tourism and recreation-water yield peak-type.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed 295 nearshore Chinese islands between 2000 and 2022.
  • The average decline in ecosystem services was 64.03% across the five services (2000-2022).
  • The trade-off between water yield and habitat quality increased by 43.21% (2012-2022).
  • The synergy between soil conservation and carbon storage increased by 31.48% (2000-2022).
  • The classification of nearshore islands by ecosystem bundles resulted in 68.95% being classified as Ecological Protection Category, 19.05% as Agricultural Planting Category, and 12.00% as Production and Livelihood Category.

Sources:

  • Exploring ecosystem services and interconnections in nearshore islands for spatial planning: Insights from China. Journal of Environmental Management, 2025;393:127195.
  • Journal of Environmental Management can be contacted at: Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd, 24-28 Oval Rd, London NW1 7DX, England (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Environmental Management - www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-environmental-management/).