Analysis of the Ecosystem Soil Conservation Function Based on the Major Function-Oriented Zones across the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is an important ecological security barrier for China. The spatial-temporal pattern of land use changes and changing characteristics of soil conservation function were analyzed based on the Major Function-Oriented Zones (MFOZs) from 2010 to 2015. Soil conservation was calculated by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Results were as follows: in 2015, the area ratio of built-up land in the optimal development zones (ODZs), key development zones (KDZs), agricultural production zones (APZs) and key ecological function zones (KEFZs) was 25.25%, 6.55%, 3.70% and 0.40%, respectively, which reflected the gradient of territorial development based on their functions. The average annual soil retention was 18.76 billion t/year during the study period, and the per unit soil retention was 91.54 t/hm2/year. The soil conservation function capacity was weakened in the order of KEFZs, APZs, KDZs and ODZs. Soil conservation function of the YREB showed an overall improvement from 2010 to 2015. The implementation of the MOFZs strategy has contributed significantly to improving the ecological security capability of the YREB