Spatial characteristics and trade-offs of ecosystem services in arid central asia

•Evaluating an arid Ecosystem: Central Asia Case Study.•Quantifying four essential ecosystem services based on InVEST model.•Identifying key factors impacting ecosystem services and trade-offs.•Proposing Targeted Strategies for Effective Ecosystem Management. Ecosystem services (ESs) research is crucial for comprehending the intricate interplay between humans activities and the environment, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Central Asia, which straddles the transition from semi-arid to arid climates. Despite the ecological significance of these arid regions, research on ESs remains limited. In this study, we applied the InVEST model to analyze the spatial characteristics of multiple ESs, including water yield (WY), soil retention (SR), carbon storage (CS), and habitat quality (HQ), in Central Asia. Our findings unveil significant zonal disparities in the distribution of ESs and trade-offs across the region. WY, SR and WY-SR display distinct vertical zonation patterns, while CS and HQ exhibit both latitudinal and vertical zonation patterns. Trade-offs, with the exception of WY-SR, mostly exhibit a striped distribution pattern. Additionally, based on the GeoDetector approach, we identified key influencing factors, encompassing land use type, precipitation, evapotranspiration, temperature, vegetation coverage, soil depth, and soil organic matter. Notably, we discovered that the relationship between these factors and ESs, as well as trade-offs, is non-linear, with certain factors exhibiting optimal thresholds for maintaining either high or low levels of ESs and trade-offs. This study advances our understanding of ESs in the arid regions of Central Asia, offering valuable insights for regional ecosystem management and coordinated development. By shedding light on the non-linear dynamics of ESs and their response to influencing factors, it underscores the importance of further research to support sustainable development efforts in these regions. Future research can build upon these findings to develop policies and interventions that harness ESs for the benefit of the environment and local communities.