Ecological security patterns in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region from the perspective of matching the supply and demand of ecosystem services

The ecological security pattern is an important foundation for enhancing human well-being and maintaining sustainable regional development. Using the ecologically sensitive and ecological transition zone of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia Provinces as the research object, we constructed the research framework of “matching supply and demand-pattern analysis-optimization and restructuring,” used the InVEST model and the comprehensive parameters of supply and demand to assess the dynamic changes of the relationship between supply and demand for ecosystem services, and analyzed the characteristics of ecological security patterns in combination with the circuit theory to propose optimization and restructuring strategies. The supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Shanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region has significant spatial and temporal variations, including an overall oversupply and a local imbalance. From 2000 to 2020, the ecological source area followed the pattern of centralized and continuous distribution from north to south. The number of ecological corridors and ecological pinch points decreased and then increased, and the length of the area of the corridors continued to shrink. The number of ecological barrier points increased by 49, and the area increased by 588.66 km2. Based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystem service supply-demand relationship and ecological security patterns in the Shanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region, the proposed ecological security pattern construction and optimization strategy of “one axis and one point” and “two screens and multiple zones” can be used to formulate a regional ecological security pattern and optimization strategy. The proposed ecological security pattern construction and optimization strategy can provide a scientific basis and methodological reference for the formulation of regional ecological protection planning and future sustainable development.