Learning from “Nature-based Solutions” to construction of performance evaluation system of ecological restoration project in Cold-Arid Region in Qinghai province

The cold and arid region of Qinghai province is an important ecological security barrier in China, with the continuous strengthening of climate change and human interference, the risk of ecological degradation is increasing in this region. Efficient ecological restoration is an important measure to promote the harmonious development of man and nature in the region. The performance evaluation of ecological restoration is the key of ensuring the realization of ecological restoration goals. Combined with the environmental characteristics and the main engineering characteristics of ecological restoration of the cold and arid regions in Qinghai province, the challenges of the existing ecological restoration performance evaluation system were analyzed. Based on the concept of “Nature-based Solutions” (NbS), a “three-stage, three-scale, and four-objective” performance evaluation system was proposed. The three-stage evaluation model was proposed: pre-evaluation, post-evaluation and post-evaluation, so as to ensure the accuracy of ecological restoration planning, adaptive management of restoration and the realization of restoration objectives. The spatial scale was divided into three scales : regional scale, ecosystem scale and site scale, so as to determine different performance evaluation indicators, clarify the focus of work at all levels and realize the integration and optimization of restoration effectiveness; The systematic performance evaluation index system was proposed including four aspects: ecological benefit, social benefit, economic benefit and management benefit, to promote the coordinated transformation of ecological restoration from paying attention to ecological benefit to economic benefit, social benefit, management benefit and ecological benefit, so as to promote the sustainable development of cold and arid areas in Qinghai province.