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Understanding the interrelationships between land use, climate change, and regional water yield is critical for effective water resource management and ecosystem protection. However, comprehensive insights into how water yield evolves under different land use scenarios and climate change remain elusive. This study employs the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) models, Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, and Geodetector within a unified framework to evaluate the dynamics of land use, water yield, and their relationships with various factors (meteorological, social, economic, etc.). To forecast the land use/cover change (LUCC) pattern of the Yellow River Basin by 2030, three scenarios were considered: economic development priority (Scenario 1), ecological development priority (Scenario 2), and cropland development priority (Scenario 3). Climate change scenarios were constructed using CMIP6 data, representing low-stress (SSP119), medium-stress (SSP245), and high-stress (SSP585) conditions. The results show the following: (1) from 2000 to 2020, cropland was predominant in the Yellow River Basin, Henan Province, with significant land conversion to impervious land (construction land) and forest land; (2) water yield changes during this period were primarily influenced by meteorological factors, with land use changes having negligible impact; (3) by 2030, the water yield of Scenario 1 is highest among different land use scenarios, marginally surpassing Scenario 2 by 1.60 × 108 m3; (4) climate scenarios reveal significant disparities, with SSP126 yielding 54.95 × 108 m3 higher water yield than SSP245, driven predominantly by precipitation; (5) Geodetector analysis identifies precipitation as the most influential single factor, with significant interactions among meteorological and socio-economic factors. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in formulating land use and water resource management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield (WY) service is the cornerstone of ecosystem functionality. Predicting and assessing the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on WY is imperative for a nation's food security, regional economic development, and ecological environmental protection. This study aimed to evaluate the water yield (WY) service in Henan Province, China, using high-resolution (30 m) remote sensing land use monitoring data from four study years: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It also utilized the PLUS model to predict the characteristics of LULC evolution and the future trends of WY service under four different development scenarios (for 2030 and 2050). The study's results indicated the following: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the Henan Province's WY first increased and then decreased, ranging from 398.56 × 108 m3 to 482.95 × 108 m3. The southern and southeastern parts of Henan Province were high-value WY areas, while most of its other regions were deemed low-value WY areas. (2) The different land use types were ranked in terms of their WY capacity, from strongest to weakest, as follows: unused land, cultivated land, grassland, construction land, woodland, and water. (3) The four abovementioned scenarios were ranked, from highest to lowest, based on the Henan's total WY (in 2050) in each of them: high-quality development scenario (HDS), business-as-usual scenario (BAU), cultivated land protection scenario (CPS), and ecological protection scenario (ES). This study contributes to the advancement of ecosystem services research. Its results can provide scientific support for water resource management, sustainable regional development, and comprehensive land-use planning in Henan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With global climate change and irrational human activities, regional water resource conflicts are becoming more and more pronounced. The availability of water resource in watersheds can be indicated by the water yield. Exploring the factors that influence the water yield is crucial in responding to climate change and protecting water resource. Previous research on the factors influencing the water yield has frequently adopted a macro-level perspective, which has failed to reflect the influencing mechanisms of changes at the local scale adequately. Therefore, this study proposes a novel framework for integrally evaluating the impacts of climate change and human activities on water yield services from both local and global perspectives. Taking Ganzhou City, the source of the Ganjiang River, as an example, the results show the following: (1) Ganzhou City had the largest water yield of 1307.29 mm in 2016, and the lowest was only 375.32 mm in 2011. The spatial distribution pattern was mainly affected by the surface environment, and the high-value water yield regions in the study area were predominantly located in urban areas with flat terrain. (2) At the local scale, regions where human activities contribute more than 80% accounted for 25% of the area. In comparison, the impact of climate change accounted for 0.95%. The contribution rate of human activities to the water yield in Ganzhou City was significantly greater than that of climate change. (3) At the global scale, the simulation results of four scenarios show that climate change contributed (>98%) to the water yield, which is significantly higher than human activities (<2%). This study puts forward pioneering views on the research of water yield driving forces and provides a valuable theoretical basis for water resource protection and ecological environment construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield is a critical component of hydrological ecosystem services, influenced by both natural environments and human activities. Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) are particularly pivotal in causing water yield variations at the basin level, particularly for the ecologically fragile Ganjiang River Basin (GRB) in southern Jiangxi province, China. Over the last 33 years, the GRB has undergone substantial LULC changes that have significantly affected its water yield. Initially, this study assessed water yield from 1990 to 2022 using the InVEST model, then predicted future LULC scenarios using the PLUS model, including natural development (ND), cropland protection (CP), ecological protection (EP), and urban development (UD). The Geodetector model was then employed to analyze the influence of various factors on water yield changes. Key findings include the following: (1) Significant landscape changes were observed, including increases in impervious surfaces, cropland, and water areas, accompanied by substantial reductions in forest and other natural lands. The most pronounced decline occurred in forested regions. (2) The total water yield decreased by 0.44 × 1010 m3 over the study period, exhibiting fluctuations until 2016 and stabilizing afterward. Water yield was generally higher in the northeast and lower in the southwest, primarily influenced by actual evapotranspiration, LULC, and precipitation. (3) The impact of LULC changes on water yield varied by scenario, with the scenarios ranked from most to least impactful as follows: UD, ND, CP, EP. This variation is mainly due to the different rates of evapotranspiration and infiltration associated with land cover. These insights are crucial for guiding policymakers in developing effective LULC strategies that promote ecological restoration and sustainable water management in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Heilongjiang Province is the region in China with the highest grain production and the most significant ecological security barrier in the northern part of the country. In recent years, the growing necessity for water in human production and life has intensified water resource conflicts. In order to identify a solution to this situation, the InVEST model's water yield module is employed to simulate the water yield in Heilongjiang Province in 2000, 2010, and 2020. The water yield in Heilongjiang Province from 2000 to 2020 is evaluated, and the scenario simulation method is employed to investigate the impact of climate change and land use type changes on water yield. The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, the annual precipitation in Heilongjiang Province increased from 490 mm in 2000 to 764 mm in 2020. The spatial distribution shows a west–high and east–low pattern, with Jixi City having the highest average annual precipitation and the Greater Khingan region having the lowest. During the period of 2000–2020, woodland had the highest proportion, followed by arable land, while built-up land had the smallest proportion. The conversion of unused land and woodland represents the primary driver of the expansion in farmland areas, while the conversion of water bodies accounts for the majority of the growth in the area of unused land. The areas of woodland and water bodies exhibited a slight decrease. The order of water yield of land use types, from the greatest to the least, is as follows: built-up land, unused land, farmland, grassland, woodland, and water bodies. The main factor affecting changes in precipitation levels in the province is climate change, which contributed up to 99.58% during the period 2000–2020. In contrast, changes in land use types contributed a mere 0.42%. The sustained expansion of the urban population in Heilongjiang province has resulted in an augmented water yield in select regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield is an important service since it plays a significant role in supporting ecosystems, human livelihood, and economic activities. It is a valuable indicator for understanding the significance of water resources in specific geographic regions. This paper focuses on the valuation of water supply as an ecosystem service in the subwatersheds of the Upper Pampanga River Basin (UPRB) by applying the InVEST model in both scenarios of business-as-usual (BAU) and development. The model incorporates economic valuation techniques, i.e. net present value (NPV), thereby enabling the assessment of the monetary value associated with water supply. The results of this study show that there is a slightly decreasing trend in the annual water yield values in both scenarios. In terms of land area, the largest area under the projected BAU and development scenario (2020-2027) is grassland and forest, respectively. The results provided insights into how land use changes and climate variability affect water yield, with the BAU scenario yielding a total annual water volume of 2.3 billion m³ compared to 2.1 billion m³ in the development scenario. Furthermore, the NPV is estimated at PHP 24.6 billion for the BAU scenario and PHP 22.4 billion for the development scenario. These findings are pivotal for decision-making frameworks, hence underscoring the imperative of sustainable land use practices and water resource management in the UPRB. The study underscores the necessity of conducting a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem services to facilitate a balanced trade-off analysis, particularly at the subwatershed or watershed levels. This approach ensures that all factors influencing water yield and ecosystem health are considered, hence providing valuable insights for informed decision-making and effective resource management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]The aims of this study are to explore the spatiotemporal changes of land use and ecosystem services under different development scenarios on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and to provide an important scientific basis for optimizing the spatial pattern of land use, improving the function of ecosystem services and formulating sustainable development strategies. [Methods]The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was taken as the research object. The MCD12Q1 land cover data of phases 2001, 2010 and 2020 were taken as the basic data, and the natural and socio-economic data were taken as the auxiliary data. Based on ArcGIS, FLUS model and In VEST model platform, the land use pattern change patterns of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau from 2001 to 2020 were analyzed. The spatiotemporal distribution pattern of land use and the spatiotemporal changes of three ecosystem services function(carbon storage, water yield and soil conservation)were simulated under the Natural Development Scenario(NDS), Ecological Protection Scenario(EPS)and Farmland Protection Scenario(FPS)in 2030, 2040 and 2050. [Results](1)The main trend of land use structure in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau under different scenarios was the continuous increase of forestland and the continuous decrease of grassland. The farmland area can account for 10. 38％of the total area under the FPS. The forestland and grassland area will reach 90％of the total area by 2050 under the EPS. (2)Under the three scenarios, the total carbon storage and soil conservation of ecosystem services in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau from 2020 to 2050 show an increasing trend, while the total water yield shows a decreasing trend. Under the EPS, the predicted value of carbon storage in 2050 will be the highest, 8. 13 X109 t, and the reduction rate of water yield will be significantly lower than the other two scenarios, with a decrease of 0. 46％. (3)Yichang, Pu'er and Changde have higher ecosystem services supply capacity. However, the supply capacity of ecosystem services in Guiyang, Bijie and Anshun is low. [Conclusion]The supply capacity of ecosystem services in the study area is better from 2020 to 2050, and all service functions show strong spatial aggregation and heterogeneity under different scenarios. When formulating strategies for ecosystem service management and sustainable development in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the spatial differentiation characteristics of different ecosystem service functions and the water shortage caused by the continuous increase of forest area should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The natural environment consists of flora and fauna, providing valuable services for human livelihood, termed ecosystem services (ES). These ES consist of four significant biomes, of which water is one of the subbiomes. Due to anthropogenic activities, visible changes are seen in land patterns, which has a diverse effect on these water bodies. Monitoring these changes plays a vital role in the present-day scenario. The water availability at the upper Ganga basin (UGB) has the potential to develop the state economy by producing hydropower. Hence, the main aim of this work is to estimate the annual water yield and understand the quantity of water yield produced from each Land Use Land Cover (LULC) class in the study area using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model. The study captures the impact of LULC changes on water yield for three decades from 1985 to 2014. The results are obtained in pixel-level computations, which are incorporated with the spatial variation of parameters in the model application; it shows that the Evergreen needleleaf forest (ENF) plays a significant role in boosting water yield. The outputs obtained by the model are in good agreement with pixel-level formation. This study helps decision-makers take proper steps to increase water yield of the study area and is ideal for application in mountainous regions and other river basins where quality and quantifying ES are critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the future dynamics of water yield services in the Gorgan River Basin in the North of Iran by analyzing land cover changes from 1990 to 2020, using Landsat images and predicting up to 2040 with the Land Change Modeler and InVEST model under three scenarios: continuation, conservation, and mitigation. The results indicate significant shifts in agricultural land impacted water yields, which fluctuated from 324.7 million cubic meters (MCM) in 1990 to 279.7 MCM in 2010, before rising to 320.1 MCM by 2020. The study uniquely assesses the effects of land use changes on water yields, projecting a 13.6 % increase in water yield by 2040 under the continuation scenario, a 3.9 % increase under conservation, and a 1.6 % decrease under mitigation, which limits changes on steep slopes to prevent soil erosion and floods. This underscores the interplay between land use, vegetation cover, and water yield, emphasizing strategic land management for water resource preservation and effective watershed management in the GRB.

Water yield (WY) is an significant characteristic that reflects ecosystem services. In order to realize high-quality development, it is vital to explore the spatial and temporal (ST) distribution of WY and its driving factors in the Yiluo River Basin (YLRB) to uphold ecological stability and advance long-term sustainable growth. This paper quantifies WY in the YLRB from 2010 to 2020 using the WY model in the InVEST toolkit. Exploring ST characteristics and driving factors at both the raster and sub-watershed levels, results indicate that the overall WY (average water depth) of the YLRB in 2010, 2015, and 2020 was 26.93 × 108 m3 (136.50 mm), 22.86 × 108 m3 (113.38 mm), and 26.81 × 108 m3 (137.61 mm), respectively. The spatial pattern of watershed WY remains consistent across various periods, illustrating spatial variation in the depth of low WY in the central and western regions and high WY depth in the eastern region. At the sub-watershed level, the Luo River (LR) Basin has the highest contribution (69%) to the WY of the entire basin and served as the principal WY region of the YLRB. Conversely, the Yiluo River section, formed after the confluence of the Yi River (YR) and the LR, has the lowest WY contribution (7%) in the entire watershed. Distinct variations exist in the WY capacity among various land use (LU) types. Construction land (CSL) and unused land (UL) exhibited the highest WY capacity (315.16 mm and 241.47 mm), whereas water area (WA) had the lowest (0.01 mm). WY was significantly positively correlated with slope, precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, percentage of cultivated land, and NDVI. It showed a significant negative correlation with altitude, WA, and population density. This study helps promote the research and development of watershed ecosystem services. It also provides scientific support resolving conflicts between watershed protection and economic development and promoting harmony in the YLRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield (WY) service is the cornerstone of ecosystem functionality. Predicting and assessing the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on WY is imperative for a nation’s food security, regional economic development, and ecological environmental protection. This study aimed to evaluate the water yield (WY) service in Henan Province, China, using high-resolution (30 m) remote sensing land use monitoring data from four study years: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It also utilized the PLUS model to predict the characteristics of LULC evolution and the future trends of WY service under four different development scenarios (for 2030 and 2050). The study’s results indicated the following: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the Henan Province’s WY first increased and then decreased, ranging from 398.56 × 108 m3 to 482.95 × 108 m3. The southern and southeastern parts of Henan Province were high-value WY areas, while most of its other regions were deemed low-value WY areas. (2) The different land use types were ranked in terms of their WY capacity, from strongest to weakest, as follows: unused land, cultivated land, grassland, construction land, woodland, and water. (3) The four abovementioned scenarios were ranked, from highest to lowest, based on the Henan’s total WY (in 2050) in each of them: high-quality development scenario (HDS), business-as-usual scenario (BAU), cultivated land protection scenario (CPS), and ecological protection scenario (ES). This study contributes to the advancement of ecosystem services research. Its results can provide scientific support for water resource management, sustainable regional development, and comprehensive land-use planning in Henan Province.

Understanding the interrelationships between land use, climate change, and regional water yield is critical for effective water resource management and ecosystem protection. However, comprehensive insights into how water yield evolves under different land use scenarios and climate change remain elusive. This study employs the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) models, Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, and Geodetector within a unified framework to evaluate the dynamics of land use, water yield, and their relationships with various factors (meteorological, social, economic, etc.). To forecast the land use/cover change (LUCC) pattern of the Yellow River Basin by 2030, three scenarios were considered: economic development priority (Scenario 1), ecological development priority (Scenario 2), and cropland development priority (Scenario 3). Climate change scenarios were constructed using CMIP6 data, representing low-stress (SSP119), medium-stress (SSP245), and high-stress (SSP585) conditions. The results show the following: (1) from 2000 to 2020, cropland was predominant in the Yellow River Basin, Henan Province, with significant land conversion to impervious land (construction land) and forest land; (2) water yield changes during this period were primarily influenced by meteorological factors, with land use changes having negligible impact; (3) by 2030, the water yield of Scenario 1 is highest among different land use scenarios, marginally surpassing Scenario 2 by 1.60 × 108 m3; (4) climate scenarios reveal significant disparities, with SSP126 yielding 54.95 × 108 m3 higher water yield than SSP245, driven predominantly by precipitation; (5) Geodetector analysis identifies precipitation as the most influential single factor, with significant interactions among meteorological and socio-economic factors. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in formulating land use and water resource management strategies.

Water yield is a critical component of hydrological ecosystem services, influenced by both natural environments and human activities. Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) are particularly pivotal in causing water yield variations at the basin level, particularly for the ecologically fragile Ganjiang River Basin (GRB) in southern Jiangxi province, China. Over the last 33 years, the GRB has undergone substantial LULC changes that have significantly affected its water yield. Initially, this study assessed water yield from 1990 to 2022 using the InVEST model, then predicted future LULC scenarios using the PLUS model, including natural development (ND), cropland protection (CP), ecological protection (EP), and urban development (UD). The Geodetector model was then employed to analyze the influence of various factors on water yield changes. Key findings include the following: (1) Significant landscape changes were observed, including increases in impervious surfaces, cropland, and water areas, accompanied by substantial reductions in forest and other natural lands. The most pronounced decline occurred in forested regions. (2) The total water yield decreased by 0.44 × 1010 m3 over the study period, exhibiting fluctuations until 2016 and stabilizing afterward. Water yield was generally higher in the northeast and lower in the southwest, primarily influenced by actual evapotranspiration, LULC, and precipitation. (3) The impact of LULC changes on water yield varied by scenario, with the scenarios ranked from most to least impactful as follows: UD, ND, CP, EP. This variation is mainly due to the different rates of evapotranspiration and infiltration associated with land cover. These insights are crucial for guiding policymakers in developing effective LULC strategies that promote ecological restoration and sustainable water management in the basin.

With global climate change and irrational human activities, regional water resource conflicts are becoming more and more pronounced. The availability of water resource in watersheds can be indicated by the water yield. Exploring the factors that influence the water yield is crucial in responding to climate change and protecting water resource. Previous research on the factors influencing the water yield has frequently adopted a macro-level perspective, which has failed to reflect the influencing mechanisms of changes at the local scale adequately. Therefore, this study proposes a novel framework for integrally evaluating the impacts of climate change and human activities on water yield services from both local and global perspectives. Taking Ganzhou City, the source of the Ganjiang River, as an example, the results show the following: (1) Ganzhou City had the largest water yield of 1307.29 mm in 2016, and the lowest was only 375.32 mm in 2011. The spatial distribution pattern was mainly affected by the surface environment, and the high-value water yield regions in the study area were predominantly located in urban areas with flat terrain. (2) At the local scale, regions where human activities contribute more than 80% accounted for 25% of the area. In comparison, the impact of climate change accounted for 0.95%. The contribution rate of human activities to the water yield in Ganzhou City was significantly greater than that of climate change. (3) At the global scale, the simulation results of four scenarios show that climate change contributed (>98%) to the water yield, which is significantly higher than human activities (

The Heilongjiang Province is the region in China with the highest grain production and the most significant ecological security barrier in the northern part of the country. In recent years, the growing necessity for water in human production and life has intensified water resource conflicts. In order to identify a solution to this situation, the InVEST model’s water yield module is employed to simulate the water yield in Heilongjiang Province in 2000, 2010, and 2020. The water yield in Heilongjiang Province from 2000 to 2020 is evaluated, and the scenario simulation method is employed to investigate the impact of climate change and land use type changes on water yield. The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, the annual precipitation in Heilongjiang Province increased from 490 mm in 2000 to 764 mm in 2020. The spatial distribution shows a west–high and east–low pattern, with Jixi City having the highest average annual precipitation and the Greater Khingan region having the lowest. During the period of 2000–2020, woodland had the highest proportion, followed by arable land, while built-up land had the smallest proportion. The conversion of unused land and woodland represents the primary driver of the expansion in farmland areas, while the conversion of water bodies accounts for the majority of the growth in the area of unused land. The areas of woodland and water bodies exhibited a slight decrease. The order of water yield of land use types, from the greatest to the least, is as follows: built-up land, unused land, farmland, grassland, woodland, and water bodies. The main factor affecting changes in precipitation levels in the province is climate change, which contributed up to 99.58% during the period 2000–2020. In contrast, changes in land use types contributed a mere 0.42%. The sustained expansion of the urban population in Heilongjiang province has resulted in an augmented water yield in select regions.

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water yield (WY) ecosystem service is an important ecological indicator in assessing water availability and sustainability. Although it was widely acknowledged that WY was mainly driven by land use change and climate factor, the intrinsic driving mechanisms remained unclear. Here, we selected the Chengdu-Chongqing District in Southwest China as the study area, using the InVEST model, structural equation modeling, and scenario analysis to exhaustively reveal the past and future WY changes and contribution rate of driving factors. The results demonstrated that the study area experienced rapid forest expansion and urbanization at the expense of cropland and grassland in the last 30 years. In this region, WY increased by approximately ∼130 mm during 1990–2020, attributed mainly to the contribution of precipitation (>90 %), and secondary to potential evapotranspiration and land use change. It was projected that by the end of the 21st century, WY would increase by about 20 % under SSP585 scenario compared to the historical average. We found that every 100 mm increase of precipitation would produce an additional 62–65 mm of WY, with higher precipitation resulting larger WY coefficient due to energy constraint there. Further, we also found that the elevation factor played a direct and negative role (standardized path coefficient, b = −0.4, p

Water-related ecosystem services (WES) critical to anthropogenic-related water security are being severely degraded, primarily due to climate and land-use change. Clarifying future trends in WES (i.e., water yield and water purification services) will contribute to water resource sustainability. However, most existing studies are single case studies and rarely consider the combined impacts of climate change and land-use change on ecosystem services, resulting in patterns that cannot be adequately summarized. In this study, the “Annual Water Yield” module of the InVEST model was used to estimate water yield and the “Nutrient Delivery Ratio” module was used to analyze water purification services. In order to compare the impacts of different natural conditions and geographic locations on water ecosystem services, 17 typical watersheds throughout China were selected as study areas. Coupled scenarios were also considered when setting climate and land-use scenarios to predict prospective (2020–2100) evolutionary trends in WES. The response of WES under different scenarios was also assessed. Results show that climate change is more likely to affect water yield services than water purification services. The impact of land use on water purification services is more pronounced than its impact on water yield services. Climate change contributed > 90 % to water yields in 15 out of the 17 watersheds, contributed 79.4 % in the Hei River watershed, while only contributing 11.2 % in the Yarkant River watershed. The influence of climate change on total nitrogen (TN) output in eight of the watersheds was greater than that of land-use change, especially in the Min River and Mintuo River watersheds, for which the contribution was > 95 %. Furthermore, water purification services in nine of the watersheds were more affected by land-use change, especially in the Dongting Lake and Hei River watersheds, for which the contribution was > 95 %. The aim of this study is to assist in the planning of sound water resource measures while developing sustainable management strategies to help relevant water resource sectors cope with prospective risks and challenges.

The Qilian Mountains serve as significant ecological security barriers in the western region of China. Their continuous and stable water supply is essential for the sustainability of the human oasis in the Hexi Corridor, as well as for the maintenance of the desert ecosystem in the north. In the past three decades, land use in this area has changed significantly because of human activities, which has had a profound impact on water yield services. Based on the Water Yield module of the InVEST model, we evaluated the area and water yield of land use during 1990–––2020, and discussed the characteristics of water yield response to changes in land use. As a result of the study, it was found that in the Qilian Mountains during the period 1990–––2020: (1) the areas of swamp, unused land, medium coverage grassland, and woodland reduced, while the areas of high coverage grassland, low coverage grassland, cultivated land, construction land, glaciers, and water area increased, and each land use type exhibited a different degree of transformation. (2) In terms of total water yield, this declined by 1.09 × 108 m3, water yield of medium coverage grasslands, unused land, and swamp decreased, while water yield of other land uses increased, however, the responses to the change in water yield as a result of the change in land use were significant. (3) The areas with decreased water yield fall mainly within the high-altitude areas of the Qinghai Lake and Qaidam river watersheds, while the low-altitude areas were characterized by an increase in water yield. This study may provide decision-makers with guidance for protecting the ecosystem of the Qilian Mountains and developing a national park in the Qilian Mountains.

Water-related ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Basin are very important. Understanding water yield services and the driving factors behind water yield is extremely critical to the effective protection and management of water resources in the basin. Therefore, this study aims to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin. Based on the InVEST model, simulate the water yield in the Yangtze River Basin in 2000 and 2020 and the changes over 20 years, and combine with Geodetector to explore the impact of various driving factors on the spatial heterogeneity of water yield in the basin. The results showed that the water yield in the Yangtze River Basin has obvious spatial heterogeneity, which was high in the east and low in the west. There was a significant decrease in water yield depth in the area of high-value water yield in 2000 over a period of 20 years. The influence of precipitation and temperature on the spatial distribution of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin was significantly higher than that of other factors. The results of the interaction detector showed that the interaction between the precipitation factor and other factors had a high explanatory power on the spatial differentiation of water yield. And in the past 20 years, the interaction between precipitation and land use factors had strengthened the explanatory power of the spatial distribution of water yield in the basin. This study reveals the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of water yield in the Yangtze River Basin and its influencing factors, which will provide scientific data support for ecological environmental protection and water resources management in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield and purification are important aspects of water ecosystem services, and achieving a balanced development of the two is necessary for the development of aquatic ecosystems. Using the InVEST model, the spatiotemporal variations of regional water yield and purification services in Shanxi, China, from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. Three future scenarios (natural development, urban development, and ecological protection) were assessed for 2030 using the PLUS model. The results showed that in 2000–2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province in terms of space was generally low in the middle and northwest and high in the southeast, and it was affected by land-use change and climatic change. From 2000 to 2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province changed by 78.8 mm. In 2030, water yield will be highest under the urban development scenario (380.53 mm) and lowest in the ecological protection scenario (368.22 mm). Moreover, the water quality purification capacity improved, with nitrogen loading high in the center and low in the east and west. Due to the implementation of environmental protection policies and the improvement of the technical level, the nitrogen load was the highest in 2000 (0.97 kg/hm2) and lowest in 2015 (0.94 kg/hm2). By 2030, because of the high nitrogen loadings of cultivation and construction land and low nitrogen loadings of forests and grasslands, the nitrogen load was lowest under the scenario of urban development (0.94 kg/hm2) and highest under ecological protection (0.85 kg/hm2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting a quantitative assessment of water yield in mountainous areas is crucial for the management, development, and sustainable utilization of water resources. The Hengduan Mountains Region (HDMR) is a significant water-supporting area characterized by complex topography and climate changes. To analyze the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the HDMR from 2001 to 2020, we employed the InVEST model and examined the influencing factors in conjunction with the elevation gradient. Our results indicate that: (1) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains decreases from southeast to northwest, with the southwestern and eastern regions having high water yield values, and the high-altitude areas in the northwestern part having low water yield values. (2) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains exhibits a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend from 2001 to 2020, with the lowest level in 2011 and higher levels in 2004, 2018, and 2020. (3) Pixel-based trend analysis demonstrates a decreasing trend in water yield in the central and western parts of the study area, while the eastern part shows an increasing trend. (4) The climatic components, particularly precipitation, predominantly influence the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the Transverse Mountain region. In most areas, evapotranspiration and land surface temperature have a negative impact on water yield. (5) Water yield tends to decrease and then increase on the altitudinal gradient, with precipitation and actual evapotranspiration being the factors directly affecting water yield, and land surface temperature and the proportion of forested areas having a significant indirect effect on water yield. Our study provides a scientific basis for water resources management and sustainable development in the Hengduan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Water Conservation Functional Zone and Ecological Environmental Supporting Zone (the Capital Two Zones in China), Zhangjiakou (ZJK) City, situated in China, has played a key role in mitigating water scarcity pressure on Beijing via delivering sustainable and high-quality water yield, as well as water conservation services aimed at maintaining the ecological functions of the Capital Two Zones. However, the changing mechanism for both water yield and water conservation services instigated by the combined impacts of human activities and climate change remains poorly understood. In this study, we used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Tools (InVEST) model to analyze the changes in water yield and water conservation services, revealing the impacts of different land use scenarios. The results showed significant forest and impervious land area increment, while the water surface area decreased sharply from 1990 to 2020, with obvious urbanization expansion in ZJK during the period. Average annual water yield and water conservation from 1990 to 2020 were recorded at 48.98 mm and 2.35 mm, respectively. Precipitation emerged as the primary driver of water yield and conservation service changes, while the south of ZJK generally exhibited higher water yield and conservation service than the north of ZJK. Results also indicate that grassland had the highest water yield, with an average of 56.60 mm, followed by forest (55.66 mm) and shrub (55.07 mm). Further, the forest had the highest water conservation value (3.73 mm), followed by shrub (2.56 mm), and grassland (2.37 mm), respectively. The return of cropland to forest scenario had the most substantial decrease in water yield. Findings suggest that precipitation has a direct impact on water yield and conservation services via the amount of atmospheric water input, while land use alteration contributes to changes in regional-scale water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries, including Indonesia, face severe water scarcity and groundwater depletion. Monitoring and evaluation of water resources need to be done. In addition, it is also necessary to improve the method of calculating water, which was initially based on a biophysical approach, replaced by a socio-ecological approach. Water yields were estimated using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and geographic weighted regression (GWR) methods were used to identify and analyze socio-ecological variables for changes in water yields. The purpose of this study was: (1) to analyze the spatial and temporal changes in water yield from 2000 to 2018 in the Citarum River Basin Unit (Citarum RBU) using the InVEST model, and (2) to identify socio-ecological variables as driving factors for changes in water yields using the OLS and GWR methods. The findings revealed the overall annual water yield decreased from 16.64 billion m3 year-1 in the year 2000 to 12.16 billion m3 year-1 in 2018; it was about 4.48 billion m3 (26.91%). The socio-ecological variables in water yields in the Citarum RBU show that climate and socio-economic characteristics contributed 6% and 44%, respectively. Land use/Land cover (LU/LC) and land configuration contribution fell by 20% and 40%, respectively.The main factors underlying the recent changes in water yields include average rainfall, pure dry agriculture, and bare land at 28.53%, 27.73%, and 15.08% for the biophysical model, while 30.28%, 23.77%, and 10.24% for the socio-ecological model, respectively. However, the social-ecological model demonstrated an increase in the contribution rate of climate and socio-economic factors and vice versa for the land use and landscape contribution rate. This circumstance demonstrates that the socio-ecological model is more comprehensive than the biophysical one for evaluating water scarcity.

Water yield (WY) is an significant characteristic that reflects ecosystem services. In order to realize high-quality development, it is vital to explore the spatial and temporal (ST) distribution of WY and its driving factors in the Yiluo River Basin (YLRB) to uphold ecological stability and advance long-term sustainable growth. This paper quantifies WY in the YLRB from 2010 to 2020 using the WY model in the InVEST toolkit. Exploring ST characteristics and driving factors at both the raster and sub-watershed levels, results indicate that the overall WY (average water depth) of the YLRB in 2010, 2015, and 2020 was 26.93 × 108 m3 (136.50 mm), 22.86 × 108 m3 (113.38 mm), and 26.81 × 108 m3 (137.61 mm), respectively. The spatial pattern of watershed WY remains consistent across various periods, illustrating spatial variation in the depth of low WY in the central and western regions and high WY depth in the eastern region. At the sub-watershed level, the Luo River (LR) Basin has the highest contribution (69%) to the WY of the entire basin and served as the principal WY region of the YLRB. Conversely, the Yiluo River section, formed after the confluence of the Yi River (YR) and the LR, has the lowest WY contribution (7%) in the entire watershed. Distinct variations exist in the WY capacity among various land use (LU) types. Construction land (CSL) and unused land (UL) exhibited the highest WY capacity (315.16 mm and 241.47 mm), whereas water area (WA) had the lowest (0.01 mm). WY was significantly positively correlated with slope, precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, percentage of cultivated land, and NDVI. It showed a significant negative correlation with altitude, WA, and population density. This study helps promote the research and development of watershed ecosystem services. It also provides scientific support resolving conflicts between watershed protection and economic development and promoting harmony in the YLRB.

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Based on the data of meteorological, soil, and land use/land cover (LULC), the InVEST model was used to evaluate the water yield service in the middle and upper Ganjiang River region, which is an important ecological function area in the hilly region of South China. This study discusses the value of parameter Z, the impact of climate and LULC change on water yield service, and complements related studies in the monsoon hilly watershed in South China with obvious precipitation change, which is helpful to understand the ecosystem water service functions in this region. The results show that the water yield was closest to the statistical data of total water resources when the parameter Z value of 1.555. The overall distribution of water yield in the MU-GJR was high in the northeast (middle reaches) and low in the southwest (upper reaches), with minimum of 111.8–315.2 mm/a and maximum of 1679.1–2128.4 mm/a from 1980 to 2018. The northeast was a high importance region where high water yield values were clustered, and the southwest was a low importance region where low water yield values were clustered. Water yield was highest in living space and lowest in ecological space. The relationship between land development and water yield service should be coordinated. Climate change had a more significant impact on water yield service than land use change. The results of this study are consistent with the actual situation and help to investigate and identify important areas of water resources in the monsoonal humid zone.

Assessing how land-use changes will affect water-producing ecosystem services is particularly important for water resource management and ecosystem conservation. In this study, the InVEST model and geographical detector were used to assess the water ecosystem service functions of the Ebinur Lake Basin and analyze their relationship with land-use changes. The results show that in the past 25 years, the water yield of the study area showed a trend of a strong yield at first and then a weaker one; there was a relatively large water yield in the west and southeast regions of the basin. The order of water yield for different land-use types is as follows: forest land > grassland > water area > unused land > crop land > construction land. After 2010, the output load of nitrogen and phosphorus increased; thus, the water purification ability weakened. The main land-use types in areas that demonstrate a large change rate in water purification capacity in the basin are cultivated land and construction land. Changes in the two water ecosystem services were associated with land-use changes. Geodetector analysis results further validated this conclusion. This study proposes a viable, replicable framework for land-use decisions in ecologically fragile watersheds. This study not only helps to gain insight into urban growth patterns in the study area but also helps to inform different land-use stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the interrelationship between climate and land use/land cover (LULC) changes on water yield in mountainous areas is very urgent due to the dramatic decrease in the water availability of mountainous areas. In this study, the InVEST model was used to calculate the water yield of the mountainous area in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) from 1980 to 2020, and six scenarios were designed to identify the contribution rates of climate and LULC change on the water yield. The results showed that, in 1980–2020, the water yield in the mountainous area of BTH was the largest in 1990, at 377.95 mm and the smallest in 1980, at 150.49 mm. After 2000, the interannual water yield showed a slightly increasing trend, which was significantly lower than the water yield in 1990, the values ranging from 217.01 mm to 324.65 mm. During the study period, the spatial distribution of the water yield was similar over the years, with high values in the south-central Taihang Mountain (THM) and the northeastern Yanshan Mountain (YSM). The THM was the main water yield area of the mountainous area in BTH. The annual water yield of farmland was the highest, followed by forest land and grassland, while the proportion of volumetric water yield was the largest in forest land with an increasing trend from 1980 to 2020 and the grassland showed a decreasing trend, while that of farmland increased first from 1980 to 2000 and decreased from 2000 to 2020. Climate is the key factor controlling the water yield of the mountainous area in BTH from 1980–2000, 2000 to 2020, and 1980 to 2020. In the period of 2000–2020, the effect of LULC on the water yield is negative, while the effect is positive in 1980–2000 and 1980–2020. The contribution rate of climate to the water yield increases in the THM, Bashang region (BSR) and YSM from the period 1980–2000 to 2000–2020, while that of LULC in those three regions changes from a positive impact in 1980–2000 to a negative impact in 2000–2020, and the contribution rate is also greatly reduced. In the long term, land revegetation will gradually benefit the water yield in the mountainous areas of BTH, including the THM, BSR, and YSM. These results can provide an important scientific and technological reference for the ecological management and protection of water source sites, as well as the planning and utilization of water resources in mountainous areas of BTH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water yield module of the InVEST model was used to estimate the water yield and its temporal and spatial variation characteristics in Shaanxi Province from 2000 to 2020. Moreover, the influences of future precipitation changes and land use changes on water yield in Shaanxi Province were discussed in the 2030s and 2050s. The results showed that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the multi-year average water yields in northern Shaanxi, Guanzhong and southern Shaanxi were 33.23 × 108 m3, 73.75 × 108 m3, and 280.63 × 108 m3, respectively; (2) the spatial pattern of water yield depth displayed a characteristic of gradually increasing from north to south; (3) under the precipitation change scenario, the water yield under different emission scenarios wa s in the order of RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) 8.5 > RCP2.6 > RCP4.5; under the land use change scenario, the water yield depth of Shaanxi Province as a whole and in the three regions in the 2030s and 2050s showed a decline. The research results can provide scientific support for water ecological security, water resources, and regional high-quality sustainable development in Shaanxi Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries, including Indonesia, face severe water scarcity and groundwater depletion. Monitoring and evaluation of water resources need to be done. In addition, it is also necessary to improve the method of calculating water, which was initially based on a biophysical approach, replaced by a socio-ecological approach. Water yields were estimated using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and geographic weighted regression (GWR) methods were used to identify and analyze socio-ecological variables for changes in water yields. The purpose of this study was: (1) to analyze the spatial and temporal changes in water yield from 2000 to 2018 in the Citarum River Basin Unit (Citarum RBU) using the InVEST model, and (2) to identify socio-ecological variables as driving factors for changes in water yields using the OLS and GWR methods. The findings revealed the overall annual water yield decreased from 16.64 billion m3 year-1 in the year 2000 to 12.16 billion m3 year-1 in 2018; it was about 4.48 billion m3 (26.91%). The socio-ecological variables in water yields in the Citarum RBU show that climate and socio-economic characteristics contributed 6% and 44%, respectively. Land use/Land cover (LU/LC) and land configuration contribution fell by 20% and 40%, respectively. The main factors underlying the recent changes in water yields include average rainfall, pure dry agriculture, and bare land at 28.53%, 27.73%, and 15.08% for the biophysical model, while 30.28%, 23.77%, and 10.24% for the socio-ecological model, respectively. However, the social-ecological model demonstrated an increase in the contribution rate of climate and socio-economic factors and vice versa for the land use and landscape contribution rate. This circumstance demonstrates that the socio-ecological model is more comprehensive than the biophysical one for evaluating water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing water supply demand is vital for sustaining livelihoods. Spatial mapping and calculating water yield dynamics due to land use changes over decades are needed to manage land resources and formulate ecological protection policies. This study mapped the supply, demand, and matching status of water product service using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service and Tradeoff (InVEST) biophysical models in the Citarum Watershed (CW) in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Moreover, this study used Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to study the agglomeration characteristics and evolutionary trajectories of supply–demand over two decades. The results showed that between 2000–2010 and 2010–2020, the water supply decreased by 19.01 × 108 m3 (18.28%) and 12.97 × 108 m3 (15.27%), respectively. However, the water demand in the same period increased by 6.17 × 108 m3 (23%) and 15.74 × 108 m3 (47%), respectively. Over the decades, the contribution of land use land cover (LULC) changes to variations in water supply has yielded values ranging from 2.87% to 6.37%. The analysis of the water supply–demand imbalance indicated that the entire CW experienced water shortage, and the type of spatial matching for supply and demand is dominated by a high supply and high demand class (16.09% of the total area). Based on the level of water deficit calculation, the upstream and downstream areas were identified as zones that require ecological conservation, while the middle CW area requires ecological restoration or ecological improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical rainforests in the central hilly section of Hainan Island are the source of the Nandu, Changhua, and Wanquan rivers, which are crucial for water conservation and ecological protection. The quantitative assessment of water yield in the three basins is beneficial for developing regional water resource protection plans, establishing ecological compensation mechanisms, and maintaining ecological balance. Based on land use data from five periods between 1980 and 2020, this paper adopts the InVEST model and geographic detectors to investigate the spatial-temporal variation characteristics and driving factors of water yield in three major basins of Hainan Island. The results demonstrate that forestland, which makes up more than 70% of the total area in the three basins of Hainan Island, is the predominant land use type. With a depth of 1269.18 mm, Wanquan Basin is the deepest of the three basins, followed by Nandu Basin and Changhua Basin. The total water yield of three basins shows a slightly decreasing trend from 17.991 billion m3 in 1980 to 17.864 billion m3 in 2020. The spatial distribution of water yield is high in the southeast region and low in the northwest region, with strong autocorrelation and significant aggregation. According to geographic detection, land use type is the dominant factor for the spatial differentiation of water yield in the three basins, with a contribution rate of 0.563, and soil type and annual precipitation are important impact factors. The interaction and synergy of soil types and land use types jointly affect the spatial differentiation of water yield in the basin. The results of this study can provide data support and scientific references for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in the three major basins of Hainan Island.

Study region: Seventeen watersheds distributed throughout China Study focus: Climate and land-use changes result in significant impacts on watershed water yields. The water yield response to climate and land-use changes differs due to variations in watershed geographical, climatic, and socioeconomic characteristics. Effects of watershed characteristics on water yield response remain unclear. In this study, the InVEST model is used to simultaneously assess water yields of 17 typical watersheds distributed throughout China, with widely differing characteristics, and specific scenario simulations are conducted to compare similarities and differences among different watersheds in the water yield response to climate and land-use changes. New hydrological insights for the region: Results show that about three quarters of the investigated watersheds are characterized by increasing water yields from 1990 to 2020. The impact of climate change on water yield is similar in these watersheds. However, water yield response to land-use changes exhibits significant spatial differences, which is affected by watershed geographical and climatic characteristics. The mean annual water yield of Hai River watershed with two megacities (Beijing and Tianjin) is lowest among investigated watersheds, which is only 0.14 % of that in the Min River watershed in southeastern China. This implies that the mismatch of regional socioeconomic development and water availability remains a big challenge in China and requires rational cross-watershed management strategies.

The Weihe River Basin has the worst soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. As the largest tributary of the Yellow River, the water conservation capacity in the Weihe River Basin is of great significance to the Yellow River Basin and the Loess Plateau. In this study, the volume of the water conservation in the Weihe River Basin is estimated based on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model, and the water conservation capacity of the basin is measured after excluding the influence of rainfall and evapotranspiration. The results show that from 1987 to 2019, the water conservation in the Weihe River Basin showed an overall trend of decreasing first and then increasing. The increasing trend of water conservation is greater than that of water production. The water conservation in the Weihe River Basin decreased to the lowest in 2005 and increased to the highest in 2019. Spatially, the water conservation volume is large in the south and west and small in the north and east. The water conservation volumes increase in the middle reaches of the Weihe River, the source of the Weihe River and the Jinghe River Basin. The overall capacity of the water yield and water conservation in the Weihe River Basin shows the same increasing trend. The projects of returning farms to forests and ecological management contribute to improving the water conservation capacity in the Weihe River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water security assessment is very important to social development. However, most studies only focus on the status quo of water security in a static state and ignore the flow characteristics of water resources in water security assessment. This paper integrates multi-source data to construct a water supply and service supply–demand balance and spatial flow model in the Lianshui River Basin, simulates the spatial pattern of the service flow of the aquatic water ecosystem in the Lianshui River Basin from 1990 to 2018, and quantifies the service flow. Results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2018, the water supply in the Lianshui River Basin first decreased, then increased, and finally decreased. Water yield was the highest in 2010 and lowest in 2000. (2) Water demand increased year by year, and the amount of area with a poor water resource security index increased, indicating that water security was deteriorating. (3) The four main beneficiary areas in the basin are the urban area of Lianyuan City, the county seat of Shuangfeng County, the Louxing District of Loudi City, and the urban area of Xiangxiang City and nearby towns. The service flow showed the same changing trend as the water yield. In 2018, the water resource gap in the beneficiary area was as high as 4.49 billion m3. Local governments should actively build a water-saving society, improve the efficiency of industrial and agricultural water-saving and residents' awareness of water-saving, and improve the water resources in the river basin. The research can provide a scientific basis for realizing the sustainable development of water resources in the Lianshui River Basin and improving the ecological compensation mechanism, and can also provide references for water resources management in other river basins. HIGHLIGHTS Water yield service was assessed using the InVEST model and the supply–demand balance model.; The ecosystem service flow was introduced into the water security simulation study of the river basin.; There are four main beneficiary areas and the area has doubled.; Water safety status in the Lianshui River Basin is deteriorating, with a water shortage of up to 4.49 billion m3.;

Water yield and purification are important aspects of water ecosystem services, and achieving a balanced development of the two is necessary for the development of aquatic ecosystems. Using the InVEST model, the spatiotemporal variations of regional water yield and purification services in Shanxi, China, from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. Three future scenarios (natural development, urban development, and ecological protection) were assessed for 2030 using the PLUS model. The results showed that in 2000–2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province in terms of space was generally low in the middle and northwest and high in the southeast, and it was affected by land-use change and climatic change. From 2000 to 2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province changed by 78.8 mm. In 2030, water yield will be highest under the urban development scenario (380.53 mm) and lowest in the ecological protection scenario (368.22 mm). Moreover, the water quality purification capacity improved, with nitrogen loading high in the center and low in the east and west. Due to the implementation of environmental protection policies and the improvement of the technical level, the nitrogen load was the highest in 2000 (0.97 kg/hm2) and lowest in 2015 (0.94 kg/hm2). By 2030, because of the high nitrogen loadings of cultivation and construction land and low nitrogen loadings of forests and grasslands, the nitrogen load was lowest under the scenario of urban development (0.94 kg/hm2) and highest under ecological protection (0.85 kg/hm2).

Conducting a quantitative assessment of water yield in mountainous areas is crucial for the management, development, and sustainable utilization of water resources. The Hengduan Mountains Region (HDMR) is a significant water-supporting area characterized by complex topography and climate changes. To analyze the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the HDMR from 2001 to 2020, we employed the InVEST model and examined the influencing factors in conjunction with the elevation gradient. Our results indicate that: (1) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains decreases from southeast to northwest, with the southwestern and eastern regions having high water yield values, and the high-altitude areas in the northwestern part having low water yield values. (2) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains exhibits a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend from 2001 to 2020, with the lowest level in 2011 and higher levels in 2004, 2018, and 2020. (3) Pixel-based trend analysis demonstrates a decreasing trend in water yield in the central and western parts of the study area, while the eastern part shows an increasing trend. (4) The climatic components, particularly precipitation, predominantly influence the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the Transverse Mountain region. In most areas, evapotranspiration and land surface temperature have a negative impact on water yield. (5) Water yield tends to decrease and then increase on the altitudinal gradient, with precipitation and actual evapotranspiration being the factors directly affecting water yield, and land surface temperature and the proportion of forested areas having a significant indirect effect on water yield. Our study provides a scientific basis for water resources management and sustainable development in the Hengduan Mountains.

The water conservation function plays a vital role in the land–water cycle. As the "Chinese water tower", the headwaters of the Yellow River are of great significance to the safety of the Yellow River basin and even the global ecosystem. Taking the grassland ecosystem in the Yellow River source area as the research object, the InVEST water yield model with modified parameters and the ecological value evaluation of the modified equivalent factor method were used to explore the simulated spatio-temporal changes and the value of grassland water conservation from 2001 to 2020. The results show that: (1) the average total amount of water conservation in the source area is 549 × 108 m3, which is 16% of the runoff in the Yellow River basin, with a growth rate of 7.5 mm/year 1 and a contribution rate of 30%; (2) the total ecological value of grassland water conservation in 2020 is USD 340.03 × 108. The proportion of improved grassland in ecological restoration and management is only 0.51%, while the proportion of original alpine meadow reaches 67% and its ecological function and value are irreplaceable; (3) based on the comprehensive indicators of water conservation capacity, value and importance, Qumalai, Chengduo and Maduo counties are ranked as priority areas for the ecological protection of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper Yellow River Basin is an important ecological security barrier and a water conservation area in northwest China. The sustainability of its water yield services has generated much concern and debate. Spatial and temporal patterns of water yield factors are considered to be important scientific data. Therefore, the climate and land data of the upper Yellow River Basin in Maqu County are studied. Water yield for the period 1990–2020 was estimated using the water yield module in the InVEST model. Impacts and contribution weights of climate and land use/cover change on regional water yield were also quantified under 12 scenarios. The results indicate that (1) the average water yield in Maqu County has fluctuated and increased in the past 30 years. The increase in rainfall was more pronounced than the increase in potential evapotranspiration. Grassland areas continue to increase and unutilized land areas continue to decrease. (2) The average water yield for different types of land use during this period also varied. It showed grassland > unutilized land > forest > construction land > waterbody > cropland. (3) Climate change has a greater impact on water yield in Maqu County and further increases its contribution to regional water yield. The impact of land use/cover change was smaller and the contribution was smaller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water yield (WY) is an important provisioning ecosystem service that maintains the sustainable water resources supply and ecosystem water cycle. As a case study, the Tumen River Basin (TRB), located at the junction of China, North Korea, and Russia, was chosen as the study area considering that it belongs to a prioritized protection area for wild aquatic animals and a water shortage area where WY ecosystem service is critical for local ecological security and water resources management. Nevertheless, the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanism of WY ecosystem service in TRB have so far remained poorly understood. In this study, the WY model based on the InVEST model is adopted to reveal the interannual change in WY and its driving factors in TRB from 1990 to 2019. The final results showed that (1) the annual average WY reached 227.40 mm and increased at a rate of 0.72 mm/year in TRB in the last 30 years. Specifically, WY and evapotranspiration were approximately equal to 35% and 65% of the precipitation in this study, respectively; (2) correlation analysis shows that precipitation and actual evapotranspiration are the dominant natural factors affecting watershed WY, with correlation coefficients of 0.65 (p < 0.01) and − 0.56 (p < 0.01), respectively, and that the trade-off between them jointly dominates the change in watershed WY; (3) in the seven cities of the study area, Helong City, Yanji City, and Hunchun City were highly important water resource–protect areas (WY > 300 mm) and should be regarded as the key protection areas. Overall, WY was increasing in TRB over the past three decades, but its trend was not significant, which implied a potential water shortage crisis in some years with extremely low precipitation. Therefore, artificial water-saving measures must be implemented immediately to cope with potential water crisis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of large-scale water reservoir facilities in transboundary river basins always arouses intense concern and controversy. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under construction in Ethiopia is perceived to affect water security in Egypt and Sudan. Therefore, this study investigated the water and sediment balance of the Blue Nile River (BNR) basin and identified the spatio-temporal variation in sediment and water yields along with the construction of GERD using Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) sediment and water yield models. The BNR basin experienced increasing water and sediment yields between 1992 and 2020 and has shown a growth trend since 2020. The lion's share of water and sediment yields come from upstream of the GERD. Taken together, these results imply that the construction of the GERD will serve as a water storage and silt trap for Sudan and Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-yield assessment is crucial to effectively achieve water supply management at the basin scale. It is affected by climate change, and Land Use/Land Cover Change (LULCC). This paper quantifies the combined impact of LULCC and climate change on water yield over short and long-term periods in the Haraz basin, Iran. This basin has experienced severe forest degradation, agricultural expansion, and urbanization. Most agricultural lands are within the plains and coastal areas, and 25% of the basin is covered by forest, which includes part of the Hyrcanian conservation forests. Four scenarios to distinguish the relative portion of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and climate for water supply variations are considered, including real conditions at the beginning of the period (Sn1), real conditions without changes in LULC (Sn2), real conditions without climate change (Sn3), and real conditions at the end of the period (Sn4). Four study periods include 1992–2007, 2007–2016, 2016–2026 as a short term, and 1992–2026 as a long-term period. The spatial patterns of annual precipitation showed decreasing amounts in the three studied years from the northwest to the south. Water yield also reduced during the study period 1992–2007 and 2007–2016, and climate change plays an essential role in this reduction. Forecasts show that rainfall will recover in 2026 and water yield will increase in the northern sub-basins. In the long run, from 1992 to 2026, the contribution of LULCC and climate change factors to water yield are equal. The results can provide references for land use management to enhance water yield considering global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biophysical modeling of water ecosystem services is crucial to understanding their availability, vulnerabilities, and fluxes. Among the most popular models, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) models stand out. While many studies have used them, few have assessed their performance. This study evaluates the performance of InVEST's Seasonal Water Yield, Nutrient Delivery Ratio, and Sediment Delivery Ratio models in a subtropical basin in southeastern Brazil on temporal and spatial scales, using 39 years of streamflow data, 29 for total phosphorus and total nitrogen, and 19 for total suspended solids. Statistical indicators R2, PBIAS, and NSE, were also calculated. The performance of the models varied according to the type of simulated WES and analysis scales used, with the Seasonal Water Yield model demonstrating the best performance and effectively representing the spatial and temporal variability of the average annual streamflow. All models performed well in simulating long-term mean values when compared to observed data. While one should bear in mind the study's limitations, the results indicate that the models perform well in terms of relative magnitude, although their application in studies involving water-resource management and decision making is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the water source conservation area of Miyun Reservoir, Zhangcheng Area in the upper reaches of Miyun Reservoir bears the important task of providing drinking water to Beijing .The study of water supply service in Zhangcheng Water Source Conservation Area is of great significance to the high-quality development and ensuring the water ecological security of the capital. Based on the remote sensing the land use change in Zhangcheng Water Conservation Area were interpreted and analyzed from 2000 to 2019. Based on the InVEST water yield model the spatial distribution and change of water yield in the study area from 2000 to 2019 were quantitatively evaluated, and the relationship between water yield change and land use evolution was discussed by using scenario analysis. The results show that : ➀ From 2000 to 2019, the overall land use in the study area was characterized by the decrease in plow land, and the increase in forest land, grassland and construction land. ➁ The total water yield of the study area in 2000, 2010 and 2019 was 2.61, 3.46 and 2.71 million m3.The water yield in different periods showed spatial heterogeneity, which changed gradually from high in the west and low in the east into high in the east and low in the west. ➂ The average depth of water yield of different land use types in the study area from large to small is : construction land, bare land, water area, plow land, forest land and grass land. When the evapotranspiration coefficient remains unchanged, the change of land use from land type with low water yield capacity to land type with high water yield capacity will lead to an increase in regional water yields, and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the change of land use in the Ganjiang River Basin from 1990 to 2019 is analyzed, and the effect of land use change on water production in recent 30 years is studied by using the InVEST model. According to the results, the water production in the Ganjiang River Basin presents an m-type variation year by year, with more water production in the north and east, and less water production in the west and south, the results of scenario simulation show that the transfer of arable land and forestland as well as the transfer of construction land in Ganjiang Basin will promote the increase in water production, and the transfer of water area will promote the increase in water production. Rainfall is the main factor affecting water production, but it is not controllable, so it is practical to study the controllable land use change and to explore the change and influence of land use change on water production, it is of great significance to regional land use planing and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]