With the development of biodiversity conservation and ecological construction in China, system planning of natural reserves at regional scale has received wide attention. Taking Hainan Island as an example, this study explores the regional natural reserves planning method according to the spatial pattern of ecosystem services.
Considering the five aspects of biodiversity distribution, water conservation, water resource protection, soil conservation, and coastal protection, we first analyzed the spatial pattern of ecosystem services in Hainan Island and evaluated the importance of unit ecosystem. Then, based on the results of ecosystem services evaluation and the dual requirements of protecting both natural processes and biodiversity in Hainan, we identified the spatial units of high ecological importance but with inadequate or no natural reserve protection. Finally, we proposed our system planning of natural reserves for Hainan Island.
According to the planning, Hainan Island will build up 42 improved natural reserves with a total area of 2901400 hm². The terrestrial area of natural reserves is 412600 hm², accounting for 11.79% of the total land area in Hainan. Of all the reserves, there are four newly-built ones (88000 hm²), four adjusted ones (with an expansion 80100 hm²), six integrated ones from previous 17 reserves and four upgraded ones. This study showed that the ecosystem-services-based system planning of natural reserves would optimize the overall functions and benefits of nature reserves, and enhance the feasibility for practices. We concluded that ecosystem services should be integrated into future system planning of natural reserves.