Delineating multiobjective ecological management zones and revealing scale effects of thresholds for factors influencing ecosystem services in Jiangxi Province

Elucidating the connection between the total supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESTSD) can provide comprehensive decision support for regional eco-management. Previous studies have focused on the spatial and temporal evolution of ESTSDs in the horizontal dimension but studies in the vertical dimension are lacking; too much attention has been given to single dimensions for ecological management zoning while omitting multilevel and multiobjective considerations; and there are limitations in knowledge about the threshold scale effect of ecosystem service (ES) influencing factors. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the ESTSD in Jiangxi Province; to reveal the spatial and temporal evolution of the matching of total supply and total demand, the coupling and coordination, and the vertical spatial gradient effect of the ESTSD; to propose a multiobjective zoning framework that integrates 'supply-demand-coordination-function' and 'strategic guidance-zoning control-functional guidance'; and to delineate three levels of integrated ecological management zones. Constraint lines were used to explore and complement the threshold scale effect. The results show that the ESTSD values are low overall. The high supply‒low demand region is large, and the degree of coupling coordination shows an overall imbalance. The matching and coupling coordination of the ESTSD shows significant vertical spatial gradient effects. Four strategic guidance zones at the primary level, 5 secondary regulation zones, and 5 advantageous function guidelines are delineated. As the scale increases, the optimal thresholds for the digital elevation model, slope, and precipitation all decrease, whereas those for the temperature increase. It is proposed that this study will further refine the management of regional ecosystems, regulate the contradiction within the ESTSD, realize a multiobjective ecological zoning control, and promote regional coordination and sustainable development. This research provides favorable support for ecological management and can serve as a reference for similar regions.