This study employs extensive long-term Landsat time series data alongside ecosystem services (ES) coefficients tailored for both global and Chinese ecosystems to quantify the influence of land-use transformations in the Hotan oasis on ecosystem services. The key findings of this investigation are as follows:
The estimated total value of ecosystem services (ESV) within the Hotan oasis amounts to approximately 4587.91 million, 4532.25 million, and $4245.23 million for the years 1980, 2000, and 2020, respectively. Among the diverse ecosystem functions assessed, water supply (W.S.) and waste treatment (W.T.) emerged as the most pivotal, collectively accounting for a substantial 56% of the overall ESV. The hierarchy of ecosystem functions, based on their relative contribution to the total ESV, is as follows, in descending order: waste treatment (W.T.) > water supply (W.S.) > biodiversity protection (B.P.) > recreation and culture (R.C.) > climate regulation (C.R.) > soil formation (S.F.) > gas regulation (G.R.) > food production (F.P.) > raw material (R.M.). A rigorous sensitivity analysis underscores the robustness of the ESV estimates, as the coefficient sensitivity generally remains below 1 and often approaches zero. This implies that the calculated total ESV exhibits a low degree of sensitivity to variations in the value coefficients, highlighting the stability of the assessment framework. These insights carry profound implications for safeguarding the integrity and fostering the sustainability of arid region ecosystems, where socioeconomic advancements are intricately intertwined with the delicate balance of the natural ecosystem. They underscore the need for policies and practices that harmoniously align economic growth with the preservation of ecological services, thereby mitigating the risks associated with the fragility of these unique environments.