ABSTRACT Amid increasing pressures on resources and the environment, understanding the relationship between ecosystem services supply and demand (ESSD) and human well‐being (HWB), along with their underlying driving mechanisms, is essential for achieving regional sustainable development goals (SDGs). Nevertheless, the rigorous quantification of ESSD and HWB and the coupling and coordination mechanisms linking them continues to pose substantial methodological and conceptual challenges. An assessment of ESSD and HWB at the county level was conducted in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 1990 to 2020. This study examined spatiotemporal trajectories, identified trade‐offs/synergies, quantified the coupling and coordination degree (CCD), and analyzed the driving forces. The results demonstrate that ESSD and HWB in the YRB increased consistently over the study period, with cumulative increases of 52% and 82%, respectively. ESSD exhibited a “high in the west, low in the east” spatial pattern, whereas HWB displayed the opposite trend. The relationship between ESSD and HWB demonstrated a transition from trade‐offs toward synergies, with the CCD increasing by more than 50% throughout the study period, reflecting a shift from basic to high coordination. This transition was influenced by an integration of natural and socioeconomic factors, with upstream areas primarily affected by natural conditions such as elevation and temperature. Both natural and socioeconomic factors dominated in the midstream area of the YRB, whereas downstream areas were more strongly influenced by socioeconomic drivers. This study provides a scientific basis and policy insights for improving the balance of ESSD, optimizing regional resource management, and enhancing HWB in the YRB.
Aihemaiti et al. (Mon,) studied this question.