Liu Di, Chen Hai, Geng Tianwei, Shi Qinqin, Chen Wenting
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xuefu Ave. 1, Xi'an, 710127, China.
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Xi'an, 710127, China.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Feb;29(7):10443-10455. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-16486-7. Epub 2021 Sep 14.
Exploring how people access ecosystem services and revealing the individual capabilities that affect the accessibility of ecosystem services are important for obtaining a clear understanding of the contribution of ecosystem services to human well-being. Previous studies on ecosystem services have incorporated too little empirical research on the accessibility of ecosystem services and on the individual capabilities that affect accessibility. We chose the ecologically fragile and economically underdeveloped Loess Plateau as the research area because local farmers in this area are dependent on ecosystem services. The importance and accessibility of ecosystem services were evaluated on the basis of questionnaire surveys and semistructured interviews. The results showed that crops, meat, and water yield were the most important ecosystem services but were the most difficult to access. In contrast, fruit and soil fertility were easier to access. Furthermore, we determined the individual capabilities of local farmers based on Nussbaum's capabilities list as well as the actual conditions for local farmers and explored the impact of individual capabilities on the accessibility of ecosystem services. The results showed that local ecological knowledge and the ability to socialize were the key individual capabilities determining whether local farmers can access ecosystem services. Compared with farmers who have a formal education, farmers with rich local ecological knowledge can more easily access to crops and erosion control. The ability to socialize reflects the exchanges or donations of ecosystem services among farmers, which increase the accessibility of fodder and organic fertilizer. Physical health, financial capital, and other individual capabilities also have an impact on the accessibility of certain ecosystem services. Therefore, improving these individual capabilities is of great value for improving farmers' well-being. In policy-making and community management, the government needs to consider the development of farmers' individual capabilities in addition to considering poverty alleviation measures.
探究人们如何获取生态系统服务，并揭示影响生态系统服务可获取性的个体能力，对于清楚理解生态系统服务对人类福祉的贡献至关重要。以往关于生态系统服务的研究对生态系统服务可获取性以及影响可获取性的个体能力的实证研究过少。我们选择生态脆弱且经济欠发达的黄土高原作为研究区域，因为该地区的当地农民依赖生态系统服务。基于问卷调查和半结构化访谈对生态系统服务的重要性和可获取性进行了评估。结果表明，作物、肉类和产水量是最重要的生态系统服务，但也是最难获取的。相比之下，水果和土壤肥力更容易获取。此外，我们根据努斯鲍姆的能力清单以及当地农民的实际情况确定了当地农民的个体能力，并探讨了个体能力对生态系统服务可获取性的影响。结果表明，当地生态知识和社交能力是决定当地农民能否获取生态系统服务的关键个体能力。与受过正规教育的农民相比，拥有丰富当地生态知识的农民更容易获取作物和控制水土流失。社交能力反映了农民之间生态系统服务的交换或捐赠，这增加了饲料和有机肥料的可获取性。身体健康、金融资本和其他个体能力也对某些生态系统服务的可获取性有影响。因此，提升这些个体能力对改善农民福祉具有重要价值。在政策制定和社区管理中，政府除了考虑扶贫措施外，还需要考虑农民个体能力的发展。
