School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Policy Simulation Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Land Academy for National Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 20;905:167084. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167084. Epub 2023 Sep 19.
Cropland encroachment on protected areas causes natural habitat loss, which may damage ecosystem functions and biodiversity conservation, leading to trade-offs between crop production and habitat conservation. Here we investigate the sustainable utilization and effects of cropland within protected areas, on which we make trade-offs with an established framework. Analyses show that 3.08 million hectares of cropland are identified within protected areas, about two-thirds less sustainable or less beneficial. 41 % and 26 % are expected to be retired for inferior sustainability and effects under the strictest and laxest habitat protection scenario, respectively. Although these retirements would cause a loss of crop benefits of 0.3-0.7 billion US dollars, they could bring ecological benefits of 2.9-3.6 billion US dollars annually. Approximately 11 % of cropland within protected areas is identified in poor agricultural conditions, and 19 % occupies areas of high protection importance, both of which are recommended for priority retirement. This study reveals the characteristics and impacts of cropland in protected areas and provides a quantified trade-off approach for conflicts between cropland and natural habitats, with important implications for production, conservation, and their trade-offs.
耕地侵占保护区导致自然生境丧失，可能破坏生态系统功能和生物多样性保护，从而在作物生产和生境保护之间产生权衡。在这里，我们研究了保护区内耕地的可持续利用和影响，并在既定框架内进行了权衡。分析表明，在保护区内发现了 308 万公顷的耕地，可持续性或效益较低，约占三分之二。在最严格和最宽松的生境保护情景下，预计分别有 41%和 26%的耕地因可持续性和效益较差而被休耕。尽管这些休耕将导致作物收益损失 0.3-0.7 亿美元，但每年可带来 29-36 亿美元的生态效益。约有 11%的保护区内耕地处于较差的农业条件，19%的耕地占据具有高保护重要性的区域，两者都建议优先休耕。本研究揭示了保护区内耕地的特征和影响，并提供了一种量化的权衡方法，用于解决耕地和自然生境之间的冲突，对生产、保护及其权衡具有重要意义。
