Evaluation Of The Ecosystem Services Of Hulunbeier Grassland

Ecosystem services are the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life. Evaluation of ecosystems services has been regarded as one of hot issues in ecology field in recent years.Through analyses and assessment of Hulunbeier grassland ecosystem as a case study, the value of the grassland ecosystem and indirect value of ecosystem services in Stipa baicalensis steppe under different grazing intensities, qualitative study of huge economy benefits gained from the grassland ecosystem are assessed. With an aid of a view to protecting and building the Hulunbeier grassland, it has been helpful to make the ecosystem torwards the road for sustainable development. The main results are as fallows:1. Based on the literature review of the progress and the connotation of ecosystem services research, the mechanisms of ecosystem services, including raw material production, gases regulation, water source conservation, soil conservation, nutrient cycling, waste degradation, biodiversity protection and recreation, are systematically discussed in the present paper.2. The index system of Hulunbeier grassland ecosystem services valuation is constructed. and the ecosystem services of Hulunbeier grassland are primarily evaluated by using some assessment methods analysis based on eco-economic theories and field research. The total value of the ecosystem services of Hulunbeier grassland is approximately 2658.30×10~8 yuan annually and is approximately 10.15 times of local GDP in 2004, mong which, the value of food and raw material production equals to 70.82×10~8 yuan/a; gases regulation 429.58×10~8 yuan/a; water source conservation 1230.17×10~8 yuan/a; soil conservation 819.90×10~8 yuan/a; nutrient cycling 13.48×10~8 yuan/a; waste degradation 0.42×10~8 yuan/a; biodiversity protection 57.06yuan/a; recreation and culture 36.87×10~8 yuan/a. The order of total value on rangeland ecosystem services in Hulunbeier are: water source conservation＞soil conservation＞gases regulation＞food and raw material production＞biodiversity protection＞recreation and culture＞nutrient cycling＞waste degradation. The indirect value of the ecosystem services is 23.68 times of direct value of that. That is to say, ecological value of grassland ecosystem exceeds greatly its economic value. Therefore, government shall perform an effectively eco-compensation, scientifically regulate relationship between productive development and ecology conservation, making it possible to sustainable development for regional economy.3. The value on four main rangeland ecosystem services in Stipa baicalensis steppe under different grazing intensities is assessed. With increase of grazing intensity, the biomass shows significantly lower trends; enhancement of soil bulk density, decreases of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and organic matter also occurs. The order of total value on rangeland ecosystem services in Stipa baicalensis steppe under different grazing intensities are: light grazing plots (39757.46yuan/hm~2-a)＞moderate grazing plots (34362.00 yuan/hm~2-a)＞high grazing plots (25473.22 yuan/hm~2-a)＞over grazing plots (15851.69 yuan/hm~2·a) respectively. In the meantime, high grazing and over grazing have major impacts on ecosystem services. It may be suggested that mataining ecosystem services be likely to be obtained, only in the cases of either light or moderate grazing intensity.