A Framework for Integrating In-Depth Synergies/Trade-offs Analysis among Multi-Stakeholders into Landscape Optimization

Landscape restoration projects (LRPs), including ecological water replenishment and ecological emigration, have been implemented globally as effective ways to relieve water scarcity and land competition, thereby enhancing sustainable wetland ecosystem health. There is growing concern about complex net-benefit relationships from economic, social, and environmental aspects in LRP optimization, with the most crucial issue being competitive demands of multi-stakeholders for ecological benefits in wetland systems. This study proposed a new framework for integrating in-depth analysis of synergies and trade-offs among multi-stakeholders, thereby enabling decision-makers to coordinate crucial relationships. The framework consisted of 2 key modules. Specifically, in the net-benefit assessment module, the patterns of landscape and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were simulated. Based on the biophysical relationships between NDVI and ecosystem services, ecological benefits and management costs of the government, residents, and ecological sectors were accurately evaluated to assess their net benefits. In the multi-stakeholder relationship analysis module, a novel vector synthesis method was introduced to evaluate the resultant benefits of an integrated wetland system (IWS) and to analyze synergy and trade-off dynamics among stakeholder–stakeholder and stakeholder–IWS interactions. The results showed that optimal LRPs were to maintain water levels at 8.0, 8.5, 8.8, and 7.3 m under SSP 1-2.6, SSP 2-4.5, SSP 3-7.0, and SSP 5-8.5, respectively, along with a 60% emigration ratio. These could achieve synergies only 7.41% below the optimum and maximize the net benefits of most stakeholders. This study provides a novel research perspective and practical optimization strategies for improving equity and effectiveness in LRP optimization.