Ecosystem service value assessment of cascade reservoirs in a karst river watershed: the Maotiao River, Southwest China.

Authors

Qingqing Sun, Jingfu Wang, Jing-An Chen, Tariq Aziz, Keqiang Peng, Wanfa Wang, Xiaozheng Li, Zhenjie Zhao, Si-Liang Li

Published in

Environmental monitoring and assessment. Volume 198. Issue 9. Aug 10, 2026. Epub Aug 10, 2026.

Abstract

Cascade reservoir development alters hydrological processes and ecosystem functions, particularly in environmentally sensitive karst watersheds. This study evaluated the ecosystem service values (ESVs) of six long-operating cascade reservoirs in the Maotiao River, Southwest China, using an integrated ecosystem-service valuation framework informed by selected Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) modules and supplementary ecological, social, and economic indicators. Provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services were assessed using 23 indicators. Estimated total ESVs ranged from USD 501.82 to 1442.98 million yr⁻¹ across reservoirs. Water conservation, industrial and domestic water supply, hydropower generation, and tourism represented the largest positive contributions, whereas erosion control costs, resettlement impacts, and cultural heritage losses constituted the major negative components. Comparative benefit-loss ratios ranged from 2.87 to 10.57, indicating substantial variation in the balance between monetized benefits and losses among reservoirs. Results suggest that karst characteristics, including strong groundwater-surface water connectivity, carbonate weathering, and groundwater dependence, may contribute to differences in ecosystem-service composition and valuation patterns compared with non-karst reservoir systems. Because the assessment integrates heterogeneous valuation domains, the aggregated ESVs and benefit-loss ratios should be interpreted as comparative indicators rather than precise measures of ecosystem value or management efficiency. The results provide a regional-scale perspective for evaluating ecosystem-service trade-offs associated with cascade reservoir development and may inform ecosystem management and planning in karst watersheds.

PMID:
42576059
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Aug 2026.

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