Zoning method of aquatic ecosystem functional management fourth-level region in the Daqing River Basin, China

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 327; p. 116870
• Main Authors: Sun, Lihui, Shu, Chang, Ding, Lin, Tian, Ziqiang, Liu, Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystem function; aquatic ecosystems; basins; case studies; China; Conservation of Natural Resources; Control unit; Daqing river; ecological function; Ecosystem; environmental management; Environmental Monitoring - methods; management systems; Rivers; Water; Water environment management; watershed management; watersheds; Zoning; China; Control unit; Daqing river; Aquatic ecosystem function; Zoning; Water environment management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116870

Watershed management needs more information on ecological function and services in large regions. Spatial units are particularly important for the watershed management. Zoning of aquatic ecosystem functional management region refers to the zoning of terrestrial ecosystems as per the characteristics of aquatic ecosystems, providing an ecological background and basic spatial units for water environment management in basins. Although basin water environment management based on aquatic ecosystem functional management region and control unit is highly effective in practice, the current need for refined management of water environments cannot be met by existing zoning schemes of aquatic ecosystem functional management regions and control units. In response to the need to protect basin water environments, which is raised in the 14th Five-Year plan, a zoning method of aquatic ecosystem functional management fourth-level region for basins is proposed in this study. It features an effective integration of aquatic ecosystem functional management regions and control units and township-level administrative divisions, thus contributing to the implementation of a basin water environment management system that fulfils the zoning, grading, classification and period goals of aquatic ecosystem functional management. In this way, it can satisfy the business application of administrative management and refined management of water environments, which features coupling terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and unification of water resources, water environments and aquatic ecology. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed zoning method were verified by using the Daqing River Basin, Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, China, as a case study. The results were accepted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Haihe River Water Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, which can provide scientific rationale and technical support for the accurate and differentiated watershed water environments management and ecological restoration of coastal wetlands in the Haihe River Basin based on aquatic ecosystem functional management fourth-level region with clear responsibility for the local government during the period of the 14th Five-Year plan. •The zoning method enhanced the coupling of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.•The eco-regions were obtained by coupling basin and administrative boundaries.•The eco-regions identify priority areas for aquatic life protection.•The results can be used to improve the ecological management in basins.