Analyzing Three-Decadal Patterns of Land Use/Land Cover Change and Regional Ecosystem Services at the Landscape Level: Case Study of Two Coastal Metropolitan Regions, Eastern China

Over the past three decades, rapid urbanization and land development in Greater Shanghai and Greater Hangzhou have significantly reduced ecosystem service values (ESVs), with declines of up to 53.72% in provisioning services in Greater Shanghai and 28.62% in Greater Hangzhou. This study quantifies how landscape fragmentation along urban-rural gradients, driven by changes in land use/land cover (LULC), has led to unbalanced ecological service delivery. Researchers analyzed LULC dynamics since the late 1970s using landscape metrics and zonal buffer-based ESV models, revealing that urban expansion at fringes has disproportionately impacted regulating, supporting, provisioning, and cultural services. The findings highlight the need for sustainable land management to mitigate ecological deterioration in fast-growing metropolitan regions.

Cai, Y.-B., Li, H.-M., Ye, X.-Y., & Zhang, H. (2016). Analyzing Three-Decadal Patterns of Land Use/Land Cover Change and Regional Ecosystem Services at the Landscape Level: Case Study of Two Coastal Metropolitan Regions, Eastern China. Sustainability, 8(8), 773. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080773