Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst

Despite a 4.36% decline in grassland area within the South China Karst region from 2000 to 2020, ecosystem services (ES) showed significant improvement, with 73.52% of counties exhibiting an elasticity index exceeding 1. This study quantified grassland ES and its sensitivity to area changes using spatio-temporal analysis and quantile regression models, revealing segmented effects of drivers—particularly socio-economic factors—on ES dynamics. The findings highlight a counterintuitive trend where grassland degradation did not correlate with reduced ES supply capacity, offering critical insights for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). This research advances understanding of grassland ES resilience in karst regions and informs targeted restoration strategies.

Li, Y., Xiong, K., Zhang, W., Xiang, S., Zhang, B., & Li, R. (2025). Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst. Global Ecology and Conservation, 57, e03392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03392