Controlling desertification brings positive socioeconomic benefits beyond regional environmental improvement: Evidence from China's Gonghe Basin

Huizi Liu; Huihui Wang; Yanmin Teng; Jinyan Zhan; Chao Wang; Wei Liu; Xi Chu; Zheng Yang; Chunyue Bai; Yufei He

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120395

Controlling desertification brings positive socioeconomic benefits beyond regional environmental improvement: Evidence from China's Gonghe Basin

J Environ Manage. 2024 Mar:354:120395. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120395. Epub 2024 Feb 16.

Authors

Huizi Liu¹, Huihui Wang², Yanmin Teng³, Jinyan Zhan⁴, Chao Wang⁵, Wei Liu⁶, Xi Chu⁷, Zheng Yang², Chunyue Bai², Yufei He²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; The Experimental High School Affiliated to Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
³ Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. Electronic address: zhanjy@bnu.edu.cn.
⁵ School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, 100070, China.
⁶ College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 230358, China.
⁷ College of City Construction, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China.

PMID: 38367500
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120395

Abstract

Large-scale desertification combatting programs (DCPs) are crucial tools for addressing climate change and improving the ecological environment. Despite existing research having predominantly focused on assessing the ecological benefits of DCPs, the understanding of their impacts on surrounding socioeconomic aspects remains limited, particularly at the household level. To comprehensively evaluate the returns of DCPs, this study chose the representative desertification control area of the Gonghe Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the research region and identified the dual benefits in terms of ecological environment and socioeconomic gains. Firstly, two essential ecosystem services, carbon sequestration (CS) and wind erosion prevention (WEP), were assessed using the MODIS NPP dataset and the RWEQ model from 2001 to 2021. Household surveys were conducted in 36 villages across 14 townships within the Gonghe Basin to gain a deeper understanding of the residents' socioeconomic conditions. Through regression analysis, the study assessed the impact of DCPs on the regional ecological environment and household socioeconomic status. The research findings revealed significant improvements in CS and WEP across a significant portion of the study area from 2001 to 2021. Upon analyzing data from 401 household questionnaires, it was generally perceived by residents in the Gonghe Basin that the implementation of DCPs led to environmental improvements and increased their income levels. Further regression analysis revealed a significant impact of both natural factors and the extent of resident participation in the projects on the ecological environment surrounding the villages and on household socioeconomic aspects. With increased resident engagement in the projects, the likelihood of increased household income and life satisfaction was higher. The diverse array of DCPs implemented in the Gonghe Basin not only improved the regional ecological environment but also stimulated socioeconomic development. In future projects, it is imperative to consider regional characteristics, align ecological effects, ensure the sustainability of livelihoods, and maximize the role of social capital.

Keywords: Benefits; Carbon sequestration; Desertification control; Household survey; Qinghai-Tibet plateau; Wind erosion prevention.

MeSH terms

China
Climate Change
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Ecosystem*
Socioeconomic Factors
Tibet