RETRACTED: An integrated approach for evaluating the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem services and ecological risk urban agglomerations in China
Annotatsiya
Riparian buffer zones serve as vital ecological interfaces between terrestrial and aquatic environments, playing an essential role in preserving ecosystem health and promoting sustainable land–water interactions. This study integrates ecosystem service valuation (ESV) and ecological risk assessment (ERA) to develop a comprehensive zoning framework for the riparian buffer zones along the Luo River in Shaanxi, covering the period from 1990 to 2023. Using GIS grid analysis, the unit-area-equivalent-factor method, landscape ecological risk indices, and natural breakpoint categorization, four distinct ecological zones were identified based on standardized Z-scores. The study revealed notable changes in land use, with construction land expanding by 4,530.21 hm 2 , and cultivated land decreasing by 9,472.68 hm 2 . As a result, the ecosystem service value (ESV) of the region increased by 3.15 %, from 30.12 × 10 8 CNY in 1990 to 31.06 × 10 8 CNY in 2023. The landscape ecological risk (LER) showed a positive trend, with zones of lowest and low ecological risk expanding by 12.45 %, reflecting improvements in the ecological condition of the region. The riparian buffer zone was categorized into ecological restoration, reconstruction, conservation, and protection zones, based on both ESV and ERA. The ecological restoration zone, although the smallest, saw a significant 62.34 % increase in area, while the ecological reconstruction zone, previously the largest, experienced a reduction of 8.92 %. This study provides valuable insights for the management and sustainable development of riparian buffer zones, offering practical recommendations for enhancing ecosystem services and minimizing ecological risks along the Luo River.