Spatial dismatch of terrestrial habitat quality from ecosystem service supply and demand perspective: A case study of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

Understanding the relationship between the supply and demand of terrestrial habitat quality (THQ) is crucial for balancing ecological security and socio-economic development, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China. This study quantified the spatial patterns of THQ supply and demand across multiple scales and examined their driving mechanisms. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in both THQ supply and demand. THQ supply was relatively high in the eastern and southern forested areas, whereas THQ demand was concentrated in the southwestern urban belt. THQ supply was positively correlated with elevation and slope, while demand declined with increasing elevation and slope. Ecosystem service supply–demand reachability (ESDR) was employed to identify spatial mismatches between supply and demand. Deficit areas were predominantly concentrated in the core southwestern cities and river-adjacent zones. In contrast, surpluse areas were primarily distributed in the northeastern and southern forested areas. Driving mechanism results indicated that climate and socioeconomic factors were the primary drivers influencing both THQ supply and demand. Specifically, climate factors had the most negative impacts on supply, while socioeconomic factors had the strongest positive impacts on demand. Topographic and soil conditions played key roles in shaping the supply–demand reachability of THQ. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing targeted ecological protection strategies and promoting coordinated development between ecological conservation and economic growth.