Matching and coupling coordination between the supply and demand for ecosystem services in Hunan Province, China

Understanding of the ecosystem services (ESs) supply–demand balance, coupling, and coordination are vital for sustainable development in society. To reveal the changing pattern and underlying mechanisms of the supply–demand matching, coupling, and coordination in ESs, in this study, we used the InVEST model to quantify the supply of the following three ESs in Hunan Province in central China from 2000 to 2018: soil conservation (SC), water yield (WY), and carbon retention (CR). Using socioeconomic data, the capacity and demand for food supply (FS) and the demand for the other three ESs were quantitatively evaluated. The Z-score standardized data were used to divide the quadrants to clarify the supply–demand matching situation. Additionally, the elasticity coefficient model and coupling coordination degree (CCD) model were used to evaluate the supply–demand coupling relationship and coordination level. Our results indicate the following: (1) The supply of CR and FS in Hunan Province increased by 12.67% and 19.48%, respectively, while that of SC and WY decreased by 2.57% and 22.83%, respectively; the demand for SC, WY, CR, and FS increased by 0.329%, 9.43%, 142.05%, and 6.23%, respectively. The supply of CR is less than the demand, showing a clear supply–demand contradiction; the supply of SC, WY, and FS exceeded the demand; both had notable spatial heterogeneity. (2) The area of high supply–high demand (HS–HD) and high supply–low demand (HS–LD) matching types decreased, whereas the low supply–low demand (LS–LD) and low supply–high demand (LS–HD) matching types increased. Additionally, the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan urban agglomeration (CZX) and selected districts in northern and central Hunan face a shortage of ESs. (3) The supply–demand coupling relationship of the SC and FS services was primarily positive while that of the WY and CR services was negative. (4) The supply–demand CCD of the four ESs was in an unbalanced state and demonstrated different trends. This study provides novel insights for decision-making regarding the optimisation of the spatial pattern of the land use in Hunan Province.