Selecting ecological restoration modes for watershed ecosystems: a case study in Loess Plateau

Abstract Ecological restoration of watersheds in the Loess Plateau (LP) requires systematic planning due to the complex ecological problems. However, current restoration strategies remain predominantly limited to zoning modes of restoration, lacking a systematic integration of restoration priority assessments and configurations of technology at the watershed scale. To enhance the effectiveness of restoration in the LP, we propose a framework for selecting restoration modes by identifying watershed restoration priorities. Our methodology integrates three key components: (1) ecological network analysis to identify critical conservation areas, (2) a multi-criteria assessment to evaluate ecological importance, problem severity, and restoration potential for priority ranking, and (3) a watershed classification that synthesizes ecosystem status conditions and restoration priorities for selecting the corresponding restoration mode. The results reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in the status conditions and ecological problems of watershed ecosystems, with high-priority restoration watersheds concentrated in the western and central regions. In addition, the watershed ecosystems are categorized into eight classes, with corresponding combinations of technologies that match both the ecological problems and restoration priorities. This study selects restoration modes based on priority identification, offering methodological improvements for watershed restoration in ecologically fragile regions.