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Purpose <p>Soil conservation is a critical ecosystem service essential to sustainable ecosystem management and human well-being, supporting food production, regulating hydrological processes, and maintaining soil and water quality. Its provision is shaped by the interactions between natural conditions and anthropogenic influences. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil conservation and their driving forces is critical for informing effective land-use strategies and advancing ecological and development objectives.</p> Methods <p>In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to quantify soil conservation capacity and its economic value in Hunan Province from 1990 to 2020. A residual analysis based on multiple linear regression was conducted to distinguish the relative contributions of climatic factors and human activities to observed spatial variation.</p> Results <p>(1) From 1990 to 2020, total soil conservation in Hunan Province increased by 1.12 × 10⁸ t, peaking at 7.31 × 10⁸ t in 1998 and dropping to a low of 2.85 × 10⁸ t in 2018. Over the same period, its value fluctuated mainly between 30.00 × 10⁹ yuan and 53.00 × 10⁹ yuan, with soil nutrient retention accounting for approximately 90%. Among regional divisions, Xiangxi (Western Hunan) consistently had significantly higher soil conservation capacity and value than other areas. (2) Both temperature and precipitation were positively correlated with soil conservation, with precipitation exerting a greater influence on changes in soil conservation than temperature. In land use changes, the conversion between forest and cropland dominated contributions to soil conservation changes. (3) Soil conservation trends were influenced by both climate change and human activity. From 1990 to 2020, the overall positive contribution rate of climate change and human activities to soil conservation across the four subregions exceeded the negative contribution rate, at approximately 60% versus 40%.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings provide empirical evidence on the evolution and drivers of soil conservation services in Hunan Province over three decades and offer a scientific basis for enhancing regional soil and water conservation and refining ecological management strategies.</p>

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Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of soil conservation services in Hunan Province: A 30-year assessment of natural and human influences

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月8日

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  • Yadi Hou,
  • Ying Ning,
  • Dongxin Wen,
  • Zhongcheng Wang,
  • Yongcai Lou

摘要

Purpose

Soil conservation is a critical ecosystem service essential to sustainable ecosystem management and human well-being, supporting food production, regulating hydrological processes, and maintaining soil and water quality. Its provision is shaped by the interactions between natural conditions and anthropogenic influences. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil conservation and their driving forces is critical for informing effective land-use strategies and advancing ecological and development objectives.

Methods

In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to quantify soil conservation capacity and its economic value in Hunan Province from 1990 to 2020. A residual analysis based on multiple linear regression was conducted to distinguish the relative contributions of climatic factors and human activities to observed spatial variation.

Results

(1) From 1990 to 2020, total soil conservation in Hunan Province increased by 1.12 × 10⁸ t, peaking at 7.31 × 10⁸ t in 1998 and dropping to a low of 2.85 × 10⁸ t in 2018. Over the same period, its value fluctuated mainly between 30.00 × 10⁹ yuan and 53.00 × 10⁹ yuan, with soil nutrient retention accounting for approximately 90%. Among regional divisions, Xiangxi (Western Hunan) consistently had significantly higher soil conservation capacity and value than other areas. (2) Both temperature and precipitation were positively correlated with soil conservation, with precipitation exerting a greater influence on changes in soil conservation than temperature. In land use changes, the conversion between forest and cropland dominated contributions to soil conservation changes. (3) Soil conservation trends were influenced by both climate change and human activity. From 1990 to 2020, the overall positive contribution rate of climate change and human activities to soil conservation across the four subregions exceeded the negative contribution rate, at approximately 60% versus 40%.

Conclusion

These findings provide empirical evidence on the evolution and drivers of soil conservation services in Hunan Province over three decades and offer a scientific basis for enhancing regional soil and water conservation and refining ecological management strategies.