Exploring the natural-socioeconomic driving and response mechanisms of ecosystem services interactions to optimize ecosystem management: A case study in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

Revealing the complex interactions between ecosystem services (ESs) and their underlying mechanisms is a prerequisite for formulating sustainable ecological management strategies. However, few studies have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the driving and response mechanisms of ESs interactions. Therefore, this study established an integrated framework to first quantify the interactions between ESs, then identify their dominant natural-socioeconomic drivers, explore their spatial non-stationary responses, and ultimately propose corresponding strategies to optimize ecosystem management. The results indicated that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, food supply and carbon sequestration increased by 18.86 % and 3.79 %, respectively, while soil conservation and water purification decreased by 9.36 % and 4.52 %, respectively, and the remaining ESs were relatively stable; spatially, apart from food supply, the other six ESs exhibited a pattern of being higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest; (2) among the 21 pairs of ESs, synergies predominated, while trade-offs occurred only between food supply and other ESs, all exhibiting weak trade-offs (r < 0.3, p < 0.001); (3) ESs interactions were more influenced by natural factors, particularly climate, than by socioeconomic factors. Moreover, the responses of ESs interactions to their dominant drivers exhibited significant spatial non-stationarity, based on which targeted strategies were proposed to optimize ecosystem management. This study not only provides a reference for ESs interactions research in other regions but also offers guidance for promoting regional sustainable development.