A high spatial resolution dataset of ecosystem services of 2000–2020 in China

Abstract. Ecosystem services are the various benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, establishing a crucial link between the natural environment and human well-being. High-resolution ecosystem service datasets can provide more detailed and accurate information, enabling the identification of site-specific differences at local scales. In this study, we produced a high spatial resolution dataset of ecosystem services in China from 2000 to 2020, simulated using ecological process models. Model parameters were calibrated based on literature summaries, ground monitoring data, and reconstructed remote sensing data. The dataset, with a spatial resolution of 30 meters, includes net primary productivity, soil conservation, sandstorm prevention, and water yield. The validation results show high consistency between this ecosystem services dataset and both in situ observations and existing datasets. From 2000 to 2020, the overall trends for net primary productivity, soil conservation, and sandstorm prevention in China showed a weak increase, while water yield decreased during this period. This high-precision dataset provides a valuable scientific foundation for accurately assessing the provision of ecosystem services and supports evidence-based government decision-making. The dataset is made available at https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.20797 (Liu et al., 2025) under a CC-BY 4.0 license.