Abstract: In this paper, the effects of ecosystem conservation policy on material benefits of local residents in Guyuan City of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were studied. Patterns and variations of five ecosystem services under the ecosystem conservation policy were analyzed based on the land use data, statistic data and household survey data during the period from 1995 to 2005. The five ecosystem services were the food supply, energy supply, water conservation, job opportunities and income sources. Material benefits of local residents were quantified by comparing the ecosystem services with the human need and consumption to ecosystems. Integrated with the land use change data, the effects of ecosystem conservations on the material benefits of local residents were assessed. The results show that the material benefits of local residents in Guyuan City was increased significantly during the period from 1995 to 2005, especially the improvement of farmers' income and food supply. In detail, 70.4% increase of material benefits of local residents depended on the grain yield increase of arable land, and 24.0% was brought about the ecosystem conservation; 26.9% increase of material benefits of local residents came from the subsidies of the project of converting land for farming to forests (or grassplots), and 70.5% was brought about the improvement of water conservation capability.

Key words: ecosystem conservation, ecosystem service, spatial patterns, material benefits of human, Guyuan city, Ningxia