Regional ecosystem health improvement pathway design based on ecological network optimization

• Construct a path to improve ecosystem health. • A method for identifying mountain, desert and oasis ecosystems was established. • The edge attack method is more suitable for EN stability analysis. • The sustainable development of EN should be more concerned in the future. • The optimization plan of ecosystem health was proposed. Large-scale ecological restoration is not realistic, we can guide regional ecological restoration through the construction and optimization of ecological networks (EN), which in turn promotes the enhancement of regional ecosystem health. However, the methods and perspectives of existing studies on EN optimization are relatively homogeneous, which to some extent restricts our ability to improve the health of regional ecosystems. In the research, we attempted to establish an EN optimization pathway (referred to as CSC optimization model) with the objectives of promoting connectivity (C), stability (S) and continuity (C) between regions into ecosystems through the construction of ENs, identification of priority restoration zones, optimization of the EN topology, and the analysis of the balance of supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs), and empirically demonstrated it in Jiuquan City, China. The results show that: (1) Barrier points and pinch points are the main contributors to the reduced connectivity of the EN, and focusing on them as priority repair areas (especially for areas where the two overlap) can improve the local connectivity of the EN. (2)Both the Add edges in Node degrees (AND) and Add edges in Node Betweenness (ANB) strategies enhance the stability of ENs. However, the ANB strategy exhibits the highest overall stability and serves as the best solution for improving the stability of ENs. (3)Areas where ESs low supply and high demand overlap with ENs are high pressure areas and potentially high degradation areas of anthropogenic impacts, which are prone to damage to ecological sources or breaks in the corridors, thus affecting the sustainable development of ENs, and should be taken as a priority area for future protection. (4)The CSC optimized and edge attack experiment’s EN can improve elemental connectivity, stability and persistence between ecosystems, which is conducive to enhancing the ecosystem health of the region. This research can provide a new perspective for the promotion and management of regional ecosystem health.