Sustainability assessment of human-earth systems from ecosystem service supply-demand perspectives： evidence from Horqin Sandy Land， China

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00113

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 176-189.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00113

Sustainability assessment of human-earth systems from ecosystem service supply-demand perspectives： evidence from Horqin Sandy Land， China

Jianpeng Zhang¹^,²(), Luming Lei¹, Yuqiang Li³^,⁴, Tianai Li¹, Xueyong Zhao³^,⁴, Haotong Ren¹, Hong Jia⁵, Yangyang Wang⁶, Lihan Cui⁷()

^1.School of Economics and Management，Inner Mongolia University，Hohhot 010021，China
^2.Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education，Peking University，Beijing 100871，China
^3.Naiman Desertification Research Station，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^4.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 100049，China
^5.Faculty of Geographical Science，Beijing Normal University，Beijing 100875，China
^6.Remote Sensing Division，Aerospace Information Applications Co. ，Ltd. ，China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation，Beijing 100071，China
^7.School of Public Affairs，Zhejiang University，Hangzhou 310058，Zhejiang，China

Received:2025-05-31 Revised:2025-07-10 Online:2025-07-20 Published:2025-08-18
Contact: Lihan Cui

Abstract

Abstract:

Understanding ecosystem service （ES） supply-demand relationships is crucial for scientifically evaluating human-ecosystem interdependencies and regional sustainability， thereby informing resource management and ecological conservation strategies. As a representative agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China， Horqin Sandy Land faces severe ecological challenges， yet comprehensive assessments of ES flows and human-earth system sustainability remain scarce. This study developed Ecosystem Service Supply （ESSI） and Human Demand （HMDI） indices to quantify ES evolution and spatial matching patterns （2000-2023）， evaluating sustainability through supply-demand balance diagnostics. Key findings reveal：（1） Grasslands contributed most significantly to ES provision， with supply services and regulation services stabilizing post-2005 after earlier fluctuations；（2） Spatially consistent patterns featured accelerated demand growth along functional zone peripheries， contrasting with declining internal supply；（3） Pronounced spatial mismatches emerged， particularly low-supply/high-demand zones （29%） concentrated in southern-eastern sectors；（4） Limited sustainability transitions occurred （2.55% significant degradation vs. 2.96% improvement）；（5） Synergistic areas dominated （79.94%）， characterized predominantly by negative synergies （concurrent ES-demand declines）， while trade-offs were minimized within functional zones.

Key words: human-earth system, ecosystem service supply-demand dynamics, conflict and coordination, sustainability assessment, Horqin Sandy Land

CLC Number:

Q148

Jianpeng Zhang, Luming Lei, Yuqiang Li, Tianai Li, Xueyong Zhao, Haotong Ren, Hong Jia, Yangyang Wang, Lihan Cui. Sustainability assessment of human-earth systems from ecosystem service supply-demand perspectives： evidence from Horqin Sandy Land， China[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2025, 45(4): 176-189.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 Horqin Sandy Land map

Table 1 Ecosystem service value equivalent factors per unit area in Horqin Sandy Land

土地利用类型	供给服务			调节服务				支持服务			文化服务
土地利用类型	食物生产	原料生产	水资源供给	气体调节	气候调节	净化环境	水文调节	土壤保持	维持养分循环	生物多样性	美学景观
旱作农田	0.85	0.40	0.02	0.67	0.36	0.10	0.27	1.03	0.12	0.13	0.06
水田	1.36	0.09	-2.63	1.11	0.57	0.17	2.72	0.01	0.19	0.21	0.09
森林	0.25	0.58	0.30	1.91	5.71	1.67	3.74	2.32	0.18	2.12	0.93
草地	0.23	0.34	0.19	1.21	3.19	1.05	2.34	1.47	0.11	1.34	0.59
水域	0.80	0.23	8.29	0.77	2.29	5.55	102.24	0.93	0.07	2.55	1.89
湿地	0.51	0.50	2.59	1.90	3.60	3.60	24.23	2.31	0.18	7.87	4.73
建设用地	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
沙地	0.01	0.02	0.01	0.07	0.05	0.21	0.12	0.08	0.01	0.07	0.03

Table 2 Hierarchical classification system of human demand indicators

人类需求维度	指标	单位
生产生活需求	人口	人
	地区生产总值	元
	夜间灯光指数	—
用地需求	建设用地面积	km²
	耕地面积	km²
	草地面积	km²
用水需求	农业用水	m³
用水需求	工业和生活用水	m³
排污消纳需求	碳排放	t
	PM_2.5浓度	μg·m^-3
	废水排放	m³

Fig.2 Four-quadrant diagram characterizing trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem service supply and human demand

Fig.3 Temporal evolution of ecosystem service supply and demand in Horqin Sandy Land and its windbreak-sand fixation functional zone

Fig.4 Divergence patterns in ecosystem service supply categories across temporal gradients within Horqin Sandy Land

Fig.5 Spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem service supply-demand spatial coupling in Horqin Sandy Land

Fig.6 Spatial mismatch patterns between ecosystem service supply and human demand in Horqin Sandy Land

Fig.7 Sustainability assessment of coupled human-natural system dynamics in Horqin Sandy Land， 2000-2023

Fig.8 Multi-dimensional sustainability evaluation of human-nature system interactions at county-level units in Horqin Sandy Land， 2000-2023

Fig.9 Dynamic trade-off and synergy interactions between ecosystem services and human demands in Horqin Sandy Land

References 53

[1]	Liu J， Dietz T， Carpenter S R，et al.Complexity of coupled human and natural systems［J］.Science，2007，317（5844）：1513-1516.
[2]	Liu H， Fang C， Fang K.Coupled human and natural cube：a novel framework for analyzing the multiple interactions between humans and nature［J］.Journal of Geographical Sciences，2020，30（3）：355-377.
[3]	樊杰.“人地关系地域系统”是综合研究地理格局形成与演变规律的理论基石［J］.地理学报，2018，73（4）：597-607.
[4]	Clark W C.Sustainability science：a room of its own［J］.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2007，104（6）：1737.
[5]	Steffen W， Richardson K， Rockström J，et al.The emergence and evolution of earth system science［J］.Nature Reviews Earth & Environment，2020，1（1）：54-63.
[6]	Fu B.Coupling human and natural systems for sustainable development［J］.National Science Review，2023，10（7）：86.
[7]	吴传钧.论地理学的研究核心：人地关系地域系统［J］.经济地理，1991（3）：1-6.
[8]	Steffen W， Rockström J， Richardson K，et al.Trajectories of the earth system in the anthropocene［J］.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2018，115（33）：8252-8259.
[9]	Vitousek P M， Mooney H A， Lubchenco J，et al.Human domination of earth's ecosystems［J］.Science，1997，277（5325）：494-499.
[10]	Keys P W， Galaz V， Dyer M，et al.Anthropocene risk［J］.Nature Sustainability，2019，2（8）：667-673.
[11]	O’neill D W， Fanning A L， Lamb W F，et al.A good life for all within planetary boundaries［J］.Nature Sustainability，2018，1（2）：88-95.
[12]	Izdebski A， Czerwiński S， Jankowiak M，et al.Unbalanced social-ecological acceleration led to state formation failure in early medieval Poland［J］.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2025，122（18）：e2409056122.
[13]	Čuček L， Klemeš J J， Kravanja Z.A review of Footprint analysis tools for monitoring impacts on sustainability［J］.Journal of Cleaner Production，2012，34：9-20.
[14]	Brown K.Global environmental change II：Planetary boundaries：A safe operating space for human geographers？［J］.Progress in Human Geography，2017，41（1）：118-130.
[15]	Fan J， Wang Y， Ouyang Z，et al.Risk forewarning of regional development sustainability based on a natural resources and environmental carrying index in China［J］.Earth's Future，2017，5（2）：196-213.
[16]	Fu B， Wu X， Wang Z，et al.Coupling human and natural systems for sustainability：experience from China's Loess Plateau［J］.Earth System Dynamics，2022，13（2）：795-808.
[17]	Raworth K.A Doughnut for the Anthropocene：humanity's compass in the 21st century［J］.The Lancet Planetary Health，2017，1（2）：48-49.
[18]	刘海猛，方创琳，李咏红.城镇化与生态环境“耦合魔方”的基本概念及框架［J］.地理学报，2019，74（8）：1489-1507.
[19]	Ji Q， Feng X， Sun S，et al.Cross-scale coupling of ecosystem service flows and socio-ecological interactions in the Yellow River Basin［J］.Journal of Environmental Management，2024，367：122071.
[20]	赵文武，刘月，冯强，等.人地系统耦合框架下的生态系统服务［J］.地理科学进展，2018，37（1）：139-151.
[21]	Costanza R， De Groot R， Braat L，et al.Twenty years of ecosystem services：How far have we come and how far do we still need to go？［J］.Ecosystem Services，2017，28：1-16.
[22]	Costanza R， D'arge R， De Groot R，et al.The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital［J］.Nature，1997，387（6630）：253-260.
[23]	Cord A F， Bartkowski B， Beckmann M，et al.Towards systematic analyses of ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies：main concepts，methods and the road ahead［J］.Ecosystem Services，2017，28：64-72.
[24]	Han Y， Edwin I E， Wang Y，et al.A carbon-centered framework for ecosystem service supply-demand analysis in arid China：insights for ecological zoning under dual carbon goals［J］.Journal of Cleaner Production，2025，518：145901.
[25]	Dang L， Zhao F， Teng Y，et al.Scale dependency of trade-offs/synergies analysis of ecosystem services based on Bayesian Belief Networks：a case of the Yellow River Basin［J］.Journal of Environmental Management，2025，375：124410.
[26]	赵哈林，赵学勇，张铜会，等.北方农牧交错带的地理界定及其生态问题［J］.地球科学进展，2002（5）：739-747.
[27]	刘二燕，赵媛媛，周蝶，等.科尔沁-浑善达克沙地2000-2020年土地沙化时空变化格局［J］.中国沙漠，2024，44（4）：46-56.
[28]	李玉强，王旭洋，郑成卓，等.科尔沁沙地防沙治沙实践与生态可持续修复浅议［J］.中国沙漠，2024，44（4）：302-314.
[29]	张柏忠.北魏以前科尔沁沙地的变迁［J］.中国沙漠，1989，9（4）：40-48.
[30]	Niu L， Shao Q， Ning J，et al.The assessment of ecological restoration effects on Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project area during 2000-2019［J］.Ecological Engineering，2023，186：106831.
[31]	黄晓霞，程宏，蒋宁，等.京津风沙源治理对生态系统服务的影响及其效益核算［J］.科学通报，2023，68（11）：1367-1380.
[32]	张建鹏，李玉强，赵学勇，等.围封对沙漠化草地土壤理化性质和固碳潜力恢复的影响［J］.中国沙漠，2017，37（3）：491-499.
[33]	Zheng X， Zhu J， Wang G G，et al.Assessing the ecological effects of the world's largest forestry eco-engineering：three-north protective forest program within the initially scheduled range from 1978 to 2022［J］.Science China Life Sciences，2025，68（2）：314-327.
[34]	金海珍，于德永，郝蕊芳，等.科尔沁沙地关键生态系统服务的约束关系分析［J］.生态学报，2021，41（18）：7249-7259.
[35]	张丽，刘佳雨.近30年东北沙地生态系统服务动态［J］.中国水土保持科学（中英文），2023，21（1）：139-148.
[36]	刘志民，余海滨，汪海洋.科尔沁沙地“山水林田湖草沙”一体化治理原理及实施重点［J］.应用生态学报，2022，33（12）：3441-3447.
[37]	Zhu W， Zhang Z， Zhang H，et al.Integrating spatial patterns and driving factors of cultural ecosystem services into territorial spatial governance：a case study of the Horqin Sandy Land with multi-ethnic settlements［J］.Habitat International，2024，148：103093.
[38]	Zhu W， Gao Y， Zhang H，et al.Optimization of the land use pattern in Horqin Sandy Land by using the CLUMondo model and Bayesian belief network［J］.Science of The Total Environment，2020，739：139929.
[39]	Xie G， Zhang C， Zhen L，et al.Dynamic changes in the value of China's ecosystem services［J］.Ecosystem Services，2017，26：46-54.
[40]	黄子璇，史达，马淑花.中国旅游经济与生态系统服务协调效应及其障碍因素研究［J］.旅游学刊，2024，39（4）：93-108.
[41]	谢高地，张彩霞，张雷明，等.基于单位面积价值当量因子的生态系统服务价值化方法改进［J］.自然资源学报，2015，30（8）：1243-1254.
[42]	乔碩，王海兵，左合君，等.毛乌素沙地绿洲化过程中生态服务价值及生态网络格局演变［J］.中国沙漠，2022，42（3）：1181-26.
[43]	巴之丹.改革开放以来中国沙漠地区土地利用与生态系统服务价值变化研究［D］四平：吉林师范大学，2023.
[44]	张天琪，杨光，刘峰，等.呼伦贝尔沙地2000-2020年土地利用变化及生态服务价值［J］.水土保持通报，2021，41（4）：331-338.
[45]	Liu H， Xing L， Wang C，et al.Sustainability assessment of coupled human and natural systems from the perspective of the supply and demand of ecosystem services［J］.Frontiers in Earth Science，2022，10：1025787.
[46]	Ouyang X， Tang L， Wei X，et al.Spatial interaction between urbanization and ecosystem services in Chinese urban agglomerations［J］.Land Use Policy，2021，109：105587.
[47]	Mu H， Li X， Wen Y，et al.A global record of annual terrestrial human footprint dataset from 2000 to 2018［J］.Scientific Data，2022，9（1）：176.
[48]	Rockström J， Steffen W， Noone K，et al.A safe operating space for humanity［J］.Nature，2009，461（7263）：472-475.
[49]	Raworth K.Doughnut Economics：Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist［M］.New York，USA：Random House Business，2017.
[50]	Yuan Z， Liang Y， Zhao H，et al.Trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services on the Tibetan Plateau［J］.Ecological Indicators，2024，158：111384.
[51]	卢建男，李玉强，赵学勇，等.半干旱区典型沙地生态环境演变特征及沙漠化防治建议［J］.中国沙漠，2024，44（4）：284-292.
[52]	Liu H， Cheng Y， Liu Z，et al.Conflict or coordination？ The spatiotemporal relationship between humans and nature on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau［J］.Earth's Future，2023，11（9）：e2022EF003452.
[53]	Wang J， Zhai T， Lin Y，et al.Spatial imbalance and changes in supply and demand of ecosystem services in China［J］.Science of The Total Environment，2019，657：781-791.

Sustainability assessment of human-earth systems from ecosystem service supply-demand perspectives： evidence from Horqin Sandy Land， China

RichHTML

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 11

References 53

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	Bo Yao, Jie Lian, Xiangwen Gong, Xiaoming Mou, Yulin Li, Yuqiang Li, Xuyang Wang. Spatial patterns and influencing factors of soil microbial carbon， nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2025, 45(4): 153-165.
[2]	gaowa Saren, Yuanyuan Zhao, Xinzhi Geng, Yue Wang, Guanglei Gao. Sustainability assessment of the human-earth system in the sandy areas of Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2020 [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2025, 45(2): 71-82.
[3]	Jing Zhang, Xiaoan Zuo, Peng Lv. Effects of changes in growing season precipitation regimes on plant community structure， function and aboveground biomass in typical habitats in the Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2024, 44(4): 1-13.
[4]	Hanchen Duan, Beiying Huang. Comprehensive evaluation of land desertification sensitivity in the Horqin Sandy Land based on the coupling of AHP and improved MEDALUS model [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2024, 44(4): 137-148.
[5]	Xiaoyu Han, Yunping Chi, Yuanyun Xie, Chunguo Kang, Peng Wu, Yehui Wang, Lei Sun, Zhengyu Wei. Material composition characteristics of fine particles of eolian sand in Horqin Sandy Land and its indication to provenance [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2024, 44(3): 231-246.
[6]	Tianling Bao, Jiliang Liu, Feng Yuan, Yinlong Li, Zhenyu Jia, Chengchen Pan. Response of plant community to experimental warming in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2024, 44(1): 151-160.
[7]	Yu Ren, Bo Zhang, Xidong Chen. Desertification sensitivity assessment in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2023, 43(2): 159-169.
[8]	Meng Yan, Xuyang Wang, Liye Zhou, Yuqiang Li. Characteristics and influencing factors of soil organic carbon in the process of desertification in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2022, 42(5): 221-231.
[9]	Chao He, Tingxi Liu, Limin Duan, Guanli Wang, Lina Hao. Water use characteristics of typical plant Artemisia halodendron in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2022, 42(4): 190-198.
[10]	Yiran Zhang, Tingxi Liu, Xin Tong, Limin Duan, Tianyu Jia, Yaxin Ji. Inversion of vegetation coverage based on multi-source remote sensing data and machine learning method in the Horqin Sandy Land， China [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2022, 42(3): 187-195.
[11]	Xiaolong Zhao, Yuhong Xie, Xujun Ma, Shaokun Wang. Vegetation structure and its relationship with soil physicochemical properties in restoring sandy grassland in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2022, 42(2): 134-141.
[12]	Jin Zhan, Dan Han, Hongling Yang, Yulin Li. Evolution characteristics of vegetation community composition and diversity during the restoration of Horqin Sandy Land in 2005-2019 [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2022, 42(2): 194-206.
[13]	Dan Han, Yulin Li, Jin Zhan, Hongling Yang. Emergy-based comparison on sustainable development of villages with different farming and pastoral ratios in Horqin Sandy Land [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2021, 41(3): 235-244.
[14]	Yinping Chen, Wenjie Cao, Peidong Yu, Huan Yang, Xuyang Wang, Yuqiang Li. The effects of soil water content on sand flow structure and wind erosion amount with wind tunnel experiment in semi-arid area [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2021, 41(2): 173-180.
[15]	Yimei Sun, Qing Tian, Aixia Guo, Xiaoan Zuo, Peng Lv, Senxi Zhang. Effects of water and nitrogen changes on vegetation characteristics and leaf traits in Horqin Sandy land， Northern China [J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2020, 40(6): 223-232.