Valuing ecosystem services under grassland restoration scenarios in the Three-River Headwaters Region Nature Reserve, China

Change in ecosystem service values was considered as a crucial indicator of ecosystem quality change. This study assessed the effectiveness of ecological programs in the Three-River Headwaters Region Nature Reserve of China by monetizing and comparing ecosystem service values under different restoration scenarios (including the passive restoration scenario, the planned scenario, and the active restoration scenario). A fast method was applied to evaluate five focal services, including water conservation, gas regulation, climate regulation, waste treatment, and erosion control. The results found that, with the assumption of vegetation fraction increasing from 15% to 40%, the net benefit would reach from 3.01 billion CNY to 5.09 billion CNY, and current restoration measures could recover grassland to its former level in 1950s. The results offered good information to policy makers on regional sustainable management and payment for ecosystem service policies. 2014 WIT Press