A Priority conservation strategy based on a multi-scale perspective of ecosystem services: a case study of the taihang mountains, china

Ecosystem service (ES) is widely recognized as a valuable perspective for ecosystem management and policymaking. However, where priority protection should be applied and how to incorporate ecosystem services into targeted management decisions remain unclear. In this case study of the Taihang Mountains, we first quantified changes in five ESs and their interactions across three spatial scales from 2000 to 2020 using geographically weighted regression, self-organizing mapping and partial correlation analysis. By integrating the ordered weighted averaging algorithm with ES relationships, we then identified priority conservation areas and provided precise planning and management strategies. The results showed that the spatial patterns of the five ESs remained largely consistent over time, but their high-value areas increased by 2.71 times on average across the three scales after 2010. Six ES pairs consistently demonstrated synergies while ES pairs related to food production generally presented trade-offs at the grid scale, with these relationships shifting more in intensity and less in direction as the scale increased. Priority conservation areas with protection efficiencies for water yield, soil conservation, habitat quality, net primary productivity, and food production of 1.64, 1.42, 1.32, 1.14, and 1.37, respectively and practical spatial planning and management strategies were proposed to realize the maximum value of multiple ESs. Our findings provide a novel framework for priority conservation strategies aimed at promoting targeted ecosystem management. • ES patterns exhibit distinct spatial heterogeneity with large supply in the YR basin. • Relationships between ES pairs vary more in strength with increasing spatial scale. • Priority conservation areas are identified to effectively balance trade-offs among multiple ESs. • Four ecological functional zones are proposed by integrating ESs into targeted conservation planning.