Influence on ecosystem service caused by soil and water conservation in Yanhe River Basin of the Loess Plateau, China

Soil erosion is one of the important causes of land degradation. Many soil and water conservation practices have been implemented in order to decrease soil erosion and prevent land degradation for a long period in Yanhe River Basin which is characteristic of serious soil erosion for concentrated rainfall, erodible soil and hilly and gully terrain. Soil and water conservation practices cannot only reduce soil and water loss but also change the situation of the land surface and influence the structure and functions of the eco-system. This study tried to quantitatively assess influence on ecosystem service caused by soil and water conservation with the index of ecosystem service value. Ecosystem service value was calculated using the data of precipitation, soil, terrain and soil and water conservation practice with the guidance of the theory of soil and water conservation science and science of ecological economics based on GIS. For the study area the ecological service value of eco-system was 13.693 billion and 24.464 billion RMB, respectively, in 1997 and 2006 in the initial state of soil and water conservation and 14.264 and 25.620 billion RMB in the end state. The ecosystem service value could increase by 0.571 and 1.156 billion RMB caused by the accumulated soil and water conservation practices in 1997 and 2006 and soil and water conservation improved the quality of environment