Changes in the ecosystem service importance of the seven major river basins in China during the implementation of the Millennium development goals (2000–2015) and sustainable development goals (2015–2020)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139787
• Publication Date: 2023-11-19T22:31:47Z
• Authors: Zhuo Li; Weiguo Jiang; Peng Hou; Kaifeng Peng; Yawen Deng; Xiaoya Wang
• Keywords: Environmental degradation

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) replaced Millennium (MDG), providing guidance and direction for future development of countries around world. Both MDG SDG have established multiple indicators to achieve environmental sustainability. However, few studies compared changes in ecological environment during two periods. Therefore, this study selected seven major river basins China as area comprehensively assessed ecosystem service importance (ESI) within different periods based on six services, including habitat quality, soil conservation, water yield, carbon storage, grain production, aesthetic landscape. Specifically, from 2000 2015 2020 were used represent periods, respectively. The results showed that overall ESI an increasing trend both proportion extremely important reached 20.39% 2020, mostly distributed Yangtze River basin Pearl basin. Except other services restored period. COVID-19 a series sudden disasters greatly affected production fluctuation quality also indicated although has recovery, there was still some degradation 20 years ago. National protection policies restoration projects gradually improved are striving reach standards step by step. many problems need be solved urgently, such reduction land, increase emissions, weak resilience disasters. made significant positive progress MDG, more efforts needed goals future.