Critical thresholds in ecological restoration to achieve optimal ecosystem services: An analysis based on forest ecosystem restoration projects in China

Ecological restoration projects should ensure that multiple ecosystem functions meet the needs of different stakeholders. Ecological and economic thresholds are both indispensable to ecological restoration or land-use planning, but their joint application is often overlooked. Consequently, short-term benefits do not necessarily lead to long-term benefits. In this study, we emphasize the importance that ecological thresholds (based on sound ecological relationships between predictor variables and response variables) and economic thresholds (based on the needs of different stakeholders) be simultaneously evaluated during ecological restoration or land-use planning initiatives. They should replace composite indicators that do not reflect what transpires within ecosystems after a certain point in time. Although the assessment of a project's ecological and economic thresholds may be costly at the present time, this approach can effectuate the value of optimal ecological services and maintain it for a long period of time, while also improving resource use efficiency and sustainable development.