Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Ecosystem Service Values: A Case Study of Khon Kaen City, Thailand

Abstract

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) by unplanned and uncontrolled urban expansion have a significant effect on ecosystem service values (ESVs). Objectives of the study were (1) to extract LULC status and its change between 2006 and 2016; (2) to predict two different LULC scenarios in 2026 and; (3) to assess LULCC impact on ESVs. Herein, Landsat imageries in 2006, 2011 and 2016 were used to classify LULC types by object-based image analysis (OBIA) and the derived results were applied to predict LULC in 2026 of two scenarios by CLUE-S model and to assess the impact of LULCC on ESVs. Results revealed that paddy field and field crop notably decreased while urban and built-up areas and rangeland dramatically increased over the study periods whereas total ESVs declined from about 145 MM USD in 2006 to 132 MM USD in 2026 of Scenario II and the ESVs of three dominant ecosystem service functions (waste treatment, water supply, and climate regulation) continuously decreased. The impact of LULCC on ESVs remarkably differed among the LULC types. In conclusion, land use and city planners should try to minimize the effect of LULCC on ESVs during the planning process.