A Framework to Identify Priority Areas for Restoration: Integrating Human Demand and Ecosystem Services in Dongting Lake Eco-Economic Zone, China

The identification of priority restoration areas (PRAs) for ecosystems is a critical step in establishing programs. Because the majority existing studies focused on improving ecosystem supply, PRAs selected are likely to be remote from human demand, and benefits will not flow humans. To fill this gap, we constructed an improved framework integrating ecological projects’ cost as indicators choosing PRAs. Then, identified each service (ES) with Marxan, ranked grades according superimposed value ES. Finally, adjusted based demand concentration those areas, chose high ES supply demand. This was applied Dongting Lake Eco-Economic Zone, one China’s most significant project sites. results indicated that “high”-, “sub-high”-, “low”-grade PRAs, only increase were equal 82, 410, 1696 km2, respectively. After considering moved continuously towards places demand; high-priority grew reach 144 while low-priority decreased 1498 km2. upgrade proposed can contribute increasing well-being, also serving support tool environmental management.