Evaluating Land-use changes (LUCs) and their impacts on ecosystem service values in Srepok river basin, Vietnam

Abstract

Ecosystems provide multiple benefits, are crucial for human well-being, and vary with both the quantity and quality of ecosystems. The Srepok River Basin in Vietnam has experienced land-use changes (LUCs) in recent decades. LUCs lead to adjustments in the ecosystem and the services it provides. In this study, we determined the ecosystem service value (ESV) and its temporal variation in the Srepok River Basin based on historical and projected LUCs using the Conversion of Land-Use and its Effects (CLUE-s) model. The results revealed significant changes in land-use structure and pattern under different land-use scenarios. The ESV slightly increased from 6,501 million USD (2010) to 6,668 million USD (2080), with trends in LUCs projected to follow the general trend of decreasing forest areas and shrubland and increasing urban areas and agricultural land. Development (such as agricultural expansion, deforestation, and urbanization) often overlooks the value of ecosystem services, with potentially disastrous consequences. Therefore, quantifying these impacts is necessary to make appropriate decisions during these changes.