Evaluation of the Potential for Territorial Ecological Restoration: A Case Study of Zhaoping County, China

Abstract

Territorial ecological restoration (TER) is a critical step for promoting the development of an ecological civilization, as well as a significant strategic task relating to national ecological security and the well-being of a population. However, calculating the ecological restoration potential (ERP) is a key challenge in TER. Using Zhaoping County as an example, this study calculated the ecological restoration natural potential (ERNP), including the vegetation coverage potential, water conservation potential, windbreak and sand fixation potential, and biodiversity potential, and proposed an ERP calculation method based on the correction of ERNP with an ecological security pattern (ESP) and social support (SS). The findings revealed several key points. First, using the similarity habitat method to calculate ERNP highlighted significant disparities in the vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity across Zhaoping County. These variations were contrary to regional ecological service functions. Second, overall, the ESP levels in Zhaoping County were high, accounting for about 60.42% of its total area being classified as high or relatively high level, with the towns exhibiting strong SS abilities primarily located in the northern region. Third, the ERP results which are between 0 and 1 indicated that areas with higher potential were mainly found in the west and northeast of Zhaoping, while lower potential areas were concentrated in the northwest and south; of them, the ERP index value in most regions is between 0.2 and 0.3, accounting for about 43.97% of the area. Finally, suggestions for the TER project layout and measures to enhance the ERP were proposed based on these ERP calculations. This study offers new insights into ERP strategies while providing guidance for identifying critical areas requiring restoration.

1. Introduction

With the continuous growth of the global economy and the acceleration of urbanization, irrational land use and high-intensity urban construction activities have led to a series of ecological and environmental problems such as ecosystem degradation and landscape destruction. At the beginning of the 20th century, TER emerged in Germany and other countries, and the United Nations regarded the restoration of the ecosystem as the core condition required to solve the ecosystem problem, and related research is also gradually being carried out [1,2,3,4,5]. China has entered a new stage of ecological civilization construction since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the CPC Central Committee views ecological civilization construction as a key blueprint for the sustainable development of China. Ecological civilization principles such as that “Clean waters and verdant mountains are as valued as mountains of gold and silver” have progressively become accepted by all individuals. Territorial space is crucial in this construction process, serving as an important carrier and spatial element. With the rapid advent of urbanization, the dichotomy between the space development and protection of land has become increasingly prominent. Issues such as inconsistent land space layout, ecological system destruction, disorganized construction land layout, and low cultivated land yield, require immediate attention. Implementing TER in this new era is critical to delivering the concept of an ecological civilization in its entirety, which is an important starting point for building a beautiful countryside and promoting rural revitalization, and a crucial task for China to realize its sustainable development strategy. The study of TER originated from Cairns’ research and has evolved into a systematic branch of ecology [6,7]. It has become an important area of investigation, encompassing various aspects such as TER zoning [8,9], TER benefit evaluation [10,11,12], and TER technology and methods [13]. In recent years, there has been increasing scholarly attention on the issue of TER. Research in this field spans various scales (province, region, county) and focuses primarily on the following areas. Scholars use the theory of ESPs to identify ecological sources and corridors by integrating morphological spatial pattern analysis, the InVEST model, circuit theory, the minimum cumulative resistance model, cost–distance analysis, spatial syntax, and other methods. They establish a comprehensive resistance surface to construct ESPs for evaluating, managing, and optimizing land spatial ecological security in the study area [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24]. Various models and methods are used in the study of TER engineering to evaluate the ecological service value and benefits that TER projects provide [25,26,27,28,29,30]. These tools include the ordered probit model, ecological benefit evaluation model, social-ecological system framework, market value method, alternative engineering method, carbon tax law, and industrial oxygen production method. In the study of TER zoning, scholars have developed a framework for evaluating land space based on different aspects such as quality, pressure, state, potential, or function by constructing an ESP, the supply and demand relationship of ecosystem services, and a comprehensive index system [31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40]. The ERP is the basis for delineating ESPs and arranging TER projects. The ERP refers to the potential ability of diverse remediation actions being used to rectify and repair the disturbed and degraded ecological environment to improve the regional ecological environment following remediation. The ERP refers to the ability of an ecosystem to improve its service function after the construction of a TER project. The ERP is based on the ERNP, which analyzes the enhancement of regional ecological service functions considering natural factors such as the regional climate, soil, hydrology, terrain, and geomorphology. In this study, the ERNP mainly measures the potential for vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity. ERP implementation is contingent on numerous variables. First, it depends on the ecological security situation in the region. The ESP is essential for the successful regulation and management of ecological processes. By constructing an ESP, it is possible to ensure the full performance of ecological functions, realize the effective and rational allocation of regional natural resources and green infrastructure, and ensure the ecological and material flow of essential natural resources, thereby achieving regional ecological security. The ESP is also the foundation of regional TER project construction. The ERP and ESP are intertwined in the process of TER planning and TER project layout in different regions, with ecologically significant sources and corridors being the primary locations requiring protection. Therefore, the greater the likelihood of a TER project layout, the closer the area is to the key area in the ESP. Second, SS contributes significantly to regional TER planning and implementation initiatives. Since TER planning entails an extensive scope and long-term issues necessitating major financial input from both state and local authorities, regional economic conditions and public support significantly impact implementation achievements. In conclusion, the ERP focuses on enhancing ecosystem services through TER initiatives and is supported by ERNP analyses based on natural variables such as climate and topography. In addition, constructing an ESP is crucial for effective regulation, ensuring the correct allocation of resources, and ensuring the necessary flow of materials. Finally, socioeconomic elements, such as local economic strength and public backing, are essential for the effective execution of TER initiatives. In the past, potential calculations mostly focused on the remediation potential of cultivated land [41,42], the consolidation potential of rural residential land [43,44], the construction of high-standard farmland, etc. [45,46]. Relevant theories and methods of ERP have been investigated in recent years, but most of them were limited to a single ecological function potential evaluation method of TER. For example, some studies used a similar habitat method to calculate the vegetation restoration potential of the Loess Plateau [47,48]; some scholars analyzed the vegetation restoration potential in the Loess Plateau via a statistical analysis method according to similar habitats [49]; there are also scholars who have assessed mangrove habitat suitability in Xiamen Bay using maximum entropy modeling combined with land use data overlay for calculating mangrove restoration potentials [50]; for some scholars, the ecological, sociocultural, historic, and economic characteristics of the area were evaluated in order to examine the potential of mangrove ecosystems [51]; and some scholars adopted a resistance system model incorporating factors such as the comprehensive pollution index of heavy metals in soil and the land type to calculate the ERP for Shuikoushan [52]. In general, research on ERPs has gradually emerged; previous research on ERPs has mostly focused on individual potential, with independent consideration of certain potential types in the calculation process. However, there is insufficient research on comprehensive ERPs, therefore, enhancing the ERP’s calculation method and related practical research is imperative.

The karst area is one of the four major ecologically fragile areas in China, and its ERP calculation has a strong representativeness for the rational arrangement of TER projects and the improvement of regional ecological quality. The karst landform area in Zhaoping County is large, with frequent surface water leakages, drought and flood disasters, and a fragile ecological environment. Based on the above analysis, this study uses Zhaoping County, Hezhou City, and Guangxi Province in China as research areas to explore the calculation method of an ERP. We suggest a comprehensive model for calculating the county ERP based on a scientific analysis of Zhaoping County. The research results can enrich the relevant theoretical ERP calculation methods and guidance on TER practices. These findings ultimately provide theoretical, experiential, and technical support for ecological conservation, restoration, and promotion in Zhaoping County and similar regions.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Overview of the Study Area

In eastern Guangxi, China, Zhaoping County is situated in the middle reaches of the Gui Jiang River. Its geographical coordinates are approximately N 23°39′ to 24°24′ and E 110°34′ to 111°19′. The county comprises undulating mountains, deep valleys, narrow flat land, high terrain in the northwest, and low terrain in the southeast (Figure 1). This unique landscape has earned it the nickname “nine mountains, half water, and half fields”. The region is marked by notable karst landforms and is frequently threatened by surface water leakage, droughts, floods, and an ecologically delicate environment. In 2021, Zhaoping County was designated as one of the 20 national key rural revitalization counties. It is also an acknowledged national demonstration county for the development of an ecological society. The results derived from ERP calculations play a crucial role in influencing its TER operations.

2.2. Data Sources

The data for this study include: ① meteorological data (temperature, precipitation, wind speed, evaporation, solar radiation, and other data), sourced from the National Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Scientific Data Center; ② normalized vegetation index data, procured from the National Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Scientific Data Center; ③ a soil data set (soil type, soil texture, soil organic matter content, etc.), derived from the Resources and Environmental Science and Data Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Scientific Data Center; ④ DEM data, which is sourced from geospatial data cloud; ⑤ Multi-period land use remote sensing monitoring data set, geomorphological data, an ecosystem type data set, vegetation type data, and GDP spatial distribution kilometer grid data, downloaded from the Resources and Environmental Science and Data Center of China Academy of Sciences; ⑥ land use status data, interpreted from remote sensing imaging; and ⑦ general public budget expenditure data, referenced from the China County Statistical Yearbook (

Table 1. Main sources of data acquisition.

Data Name	Data Type	Resolution	Acquisition Time	Source
Meteorological data; Normalized vegetation index data	Raster	1 km/250 m	February 2023	National Tibetan Plateau Data Center https://data.tpdc.ac.cn/ (accessed on 2 February 2023)
Soil data set	Raster	1 km	February 2023	Resources and Environmental Science and Data Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences http://www.resdc.cn/ (accessed on 2 February 2023); National Tibetan Plateau Data Center https://data.tpdc.ac.cn/ (accessed on 2 February 2023)
DEM data	Raster	30 m	February 2023	Geospatial data cloud https://www.gscloud.cn/ (accessed on 2 February 2023)
Multi-period land use remote sensing monitoring data set; Geomorphological data; Ecosystem type data set; Vegetation type data; GDP data;	Raster	1 km	February 2023	Resources and Environmental Science and Data Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences http://www.resdc.cn/ (accessed on 2 February 2023)
Land use status data	Vector		February 2023	Remote sensing imaging
General public budget expenditure data	Excel		February 2023	China County Statistical Yearbook

).

2.3. Research Ideas

This study aims to assess the TER in Zhaoping County. ERNP was initially calculated when considering factors such as vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity potential. The ESP and SS were subsequently evaluated, and a comprehensive ERP was proposed by adjusting the ESP and SS accordingly. Finally, recommendations for optimizing the layout of TER projects and enhancing ecological service functions in Zhaoping County were provided (Figure 2).

2.4. Ecological Restoration Natural Potential

The potential of several types of similar habitat units was assessed based on the evaluation of vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity in the research area. Similar habitat units refer to areas with comparable natural habitats with similar landscape or vegetation coverage [53]. In other words, these regions share a comparable topography, climate, soil, and geology, as well as similar vegetation cover and ecological services. A similar habitat unit contains the highest value of vegetation coverage and ecological functions within a region. To determine the ecological potential in Zhaoping County, this study selected slope, soil type, and topographic conditions to divide similar habitat units (Figure 3), resulting in 38 categories with a total of 645 divisions. For each division, maximum values of vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and the biodiversity grid are calculated separately. The difference between the maximum and current values is considered the ERNP of TER.

2.4.1. Vegetation Coverage Potential

Vegetation coverage is the ratio of the vertical projection area of plants to the overall area of a particular region. A maximum value of vegetation coverage exists in similar habitat units, representing the optimal level of vegetation restoration in that area. The difference between this maximum value and the current vegetation coverage is the vegetation coverage potential. The formula used to calculate vegetation coverage is as follows:

$$VC=\frac{\left(NDVI-NDV{I}_{soi}\right)}{\left(NDV{I}_{veg}-NDV{I}_{soil}\right)}$$

(1)

where VC represents vegetation coverage, and NDVI is the normalized vegetation index. NDVI_soil is the NDVI value of areas with no vegetation or completely bare soil; and NDVI_veg is the NDVI value of areas completely covered by vegetation. The calculation formula for determining the vegetation coverage potential is as follows:

$$V{C}_p=V{C}_{max}-VC$$

(2)

where VC_p represents the vegetation coverage potential; VC_max is the maximum value of vegetation coverage in similar habitat units to that which the grid belongs; and VC denotes the current vegetation coverage in the study area.

2.4.2. Water Conservation Potential

The term “water conservation function” refers to the service offered by a regional ecosystem in which its distinctive structure interacts with water resources to manage water flow, enhance water quality, and improve the water cycle. This function is influenced by various factors such as vegetation type, coverage, litter composition, soil thickness, and the physical properties of the soil. The maximum value of water conservation in comparable settings shows the maximum amount of possible water conservation. The difference between this maximum and the current values suggests an additional water conservation potential. The calculation formula for determining water conservation is as follows:

$$TQ={{\displaystyle \sum }}_i^j\left(P_i-R_i-E{T}_i\right)\times A_i\times {10}^3$$

(3)

where TQ denotes the total water conservation (m³), P_i is the rainfall (mm), R_i is the surface runoff (mm), ET_i is the evapotranspiration (mm), A_i is the area of type i ecosystem (km²), i is the type i in the study area, and j is the number of types of ecosystems in the study area. The calculation formula for the water conservation potential is as follows:

$$T{Q}_p=T{Q}_{max}-TQ$$

(4)

where TQ_p represents the water conservation potential; TQ_max is the maximum value of water conservation in similar habitats to which the grid belongs; and TQ denotes the current water conservation in the study area.

2.4.3. Windbreak and Sand Fixation Potential

The windbreak and sand fixation function refers to the ability of a region’s ecosystem vegetation to stabilize the surface soil by anchoring it with roots, improving the soil structure, reducing exposed areas of soil, and increasing ground roughness, thereby preventing the soil erosion caused by wind factors such as wind speed, humidity, soil type, topography, and vegetation [53]. To determine the windbreak and sand fixation potential in a given habitat unit, its value was compared to that of similar units. The difference between the maximum value and the current value represents this potential. The calculation method of windbreak and sand fixation is shown in

Table 2. Calculation method of windbreak and sand fixation.

Indicators	Calculation Formula	Meaning
Potential wind erosion, Sl	$S_l=\frac{2z}{Q_l{}^2}{Q}_{lmax}{e}^{-{\left(z/Q_l\right)}^2}$	Sl is the potential wind erosion; z is the maximum wind erosion occurrence distance (m); Ql and Qlmax are the potential sand transfer and maximum sand transfer, respectively
Actual wind erosion, Sp	$S_p=\frac{2z}{Q_p{}^2}{Q}_{pmax}{e}^{-{\left(z/Q_p\right)}^2}$	Sp is the actual wind erosion; Qp and Qpmax are the actual sand transfer amount and the maximum sand transfer amount (kg/m), respectively
Actual windbreak and sand fixation, SR	$SR=S_l-S_p$	SR is the amount of windbreak and sand fixation (t/km2·a)
Potential sandstorm transfer, Ql	$Q_l=150.71{\left(WF\times EF\times SCF\times RS\right)}^{0.3711}$	WF, EF, SCF, RS and C are the climatic factors, soil erodibility factors, soil crust factors, surface roughness factors and vegetation cover factors, respectively
Maximum potential wind-blown sand transfer, Qlmax	$Q_{lmax}=109.8\left(WF\times EF\times SCF\times RS\right)$
Actual wind-sand transfer quantity, Qp	$Q_P=150.71{\left(WF\times EF\times SCF\times RS\times C\right)}^{0.3711}$
Actual maximum transfer amount of wind-blown sand, Qpmax	$Q_{pmax}=109.8\left(WF\times EF\times SCF\times RS\times C\right)$

.

The calculation formula of the windbreak and sand fixation potential is as follows:

$$S{R}_p=S{R}_{max}-SR$$

(5)

In the formula, SR_p is the windbreak and sand fixation potential; SR_max refers to the maximum value of windbreak and sand fixation in similar habitats to which the grid belongs; and SR indicates the current amount of windbreak and sand fixation in the study area.

2.4.4. Biodiversity Potential

The biodiversity function refers to the role of an ecosystem in preserving species diversity, gene diversity, and ecosystem diversity in a region. The habitat quality module of the InVEST model analyzes habitat quality by examining land use/cover maps and assessing the extent of the biodiversity threat posed by various land types. Habitat quality is a measure of biodiversity; a higher habitat quality index indicates a higher level of habitat quality and larger biodiversity [54]. In this study, cultivated land, urban land, rural residential land, and other construction land, were selected as stress factors, and the attenuation function types, maximum influence distance, and the weights of their stress factors were determined based on research in the existing literature and the current land use status in Zhaoping County. The habitat suitability for each stress factor and its relative sensitivity (

Table 3. Maximum influence distance and weight of stress factors in biodiversity analysis in Zhaoping County.

Stress Factor	Attenuation Function	Weight	Influence Distance/km
Cultivated land	Linear	0.6	4
Urban land use	Index	1	10
Rural residential area	Index	0.7	5
Other construction land	Index	0.8	8

and

Table 4. Habitat suitability and its relative sensitivity to different stress factors in Zhaoping County.

Land Use Type	Habitat Suitability	Cultivated Land	Urban Land Use	Rural Residential Area	Other Construction Land
Cultivated land	0.5	0.3	0.5	0.4	0.5
Garden	0.8	0.5	0.7	0.6	0.5
Woodland	1	0.6	0.8	0.7	0.6
Grassland	0.7	0.5	0.7	0.6	0.5
Water area	0.9	0.5	0.8	0.6	0.7
Tidal flat	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7
Urban land use	0	0	0	0	0
Rural residential area	0	0	0	0	0
Other construction land	0	0	0	0	0
Other lands	0	0	0	0	0

) were also defined. Finally, the regional habitat quality was calculated using the InVEST model.

The maximum value of biodiversity in similar habitat units is the highest biodiversity that can be achieved, and the difference between this maximum value and the current value represents the biodiversity potential:

$$Q_p=Q_{xjm}-Q_{xj}$$

(6)

where Q_p is the biodiversity potential; Q_xjm is the maximum value of the habitat quality index of similar habitat units to which the grid belongs; and Q_xj is the biodiversity of grid x in land use type j.

2.5. Ecological Security Pattern

The process of calculating the ESP involves several steps. Initially, the habitat quality in Zhaoping County was evaluated, and suitable terrestrial ecological sources from existing nature reserves were identified. The main rivers in Zhaoping County were chosen as the study area for this water-based research. Using the least cumulative resistance model, an ecological resistance surface was then generated, considering variables such as land use type, altitude, and slope resistance. Lastly, using the spatial analytic capabilities of ArcGIS, an ecological corridor was identified based on the ecological source and comprehensive resistance surface in order to construct the ESP. To determine the level of the ESP, buffer zone analysis was conducted by measuring the distance between the ecological source and the ecological corridor. A closer proximity between these two indicates a higher level of the ESP. The levels of the ESP are categorized into five tiers: low level, relatively low level, medium level, relatively high level, and high level.

2.6. Social Support

Public budget expenditures on energy saving and environmental preservation play a vital role in the implementation of TER and environmental governance. This study proposes that in regions with a greater GDP and level of economic growth, the government should dedicate a larger portion of its budget to TER projects. In these areas, there is a stronger willingness to restore ecological balance, resulting in a more effective implementation of TER [31]. This study considers villages and towns as evaluation units to calculate the SS of TER. The calculation formula for SS is as follows:

$$Socia{l}_p=\frac{GD{P}_{ij}}{GD{P}_i}\times A_i$$

(7)

where Social_p is the SS of TER, GDP_ij is the average GDP of township i of administrative village j, GDP_i is the average GDP of township i, and A_i is the average general public budget expenditure of township i (10,000 Yuan/km²).

2.7. Comprehensive Ecological Restoration Potential

The comprehensive ERP is calculated based on the ERNP, considering the ESP and SS. This calculation involves weighting and combining the four functions of the ERNP, with ESP and SS used for correction. The correction coefficient can be found in

Table 5. Correction coefficients of ecological security pattern and socialization support.

ESP\SS	Lowest Level	Lower Level	Medium Level	Higher Level	Highest Level
E	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.9	1
S	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.9	1

. The formula for calculating the comprehensive ERP is as follows:

$$P_t=\left(0.25\times V{C}_{ps}+0.25\times T{Q}_{ps}+0.25\times S{R}_{ps}+0.25\times Q_{ps}\right)\ast E\ast S$$

(8)

where P_t is the comprehensive REP, VC_ps is the standardized vegetation coverage potential, TQ_ps is the standardized water conservation potential, SR_ps is the standardized potential of windbreak and sand fixation potential, Q_ps is the standardized potential of biodiversity, and E and S are the correction coefficients of ESP and SS.

3. Results

3.1. Ecological Restoration Natural Potential

3.1.1. Vegetation Coverage Potential

The present situation of vegetation coverage and the vegetation coverage potential in Zhaoping County were calculated. The results show that the vegetation coverage in Zhaoping County is high, with values ranging from 0 to 1, especially in the western region (Figure 4a). The vegetation coverage potential also varies from 0 to 1, decreasing gradually from northeast to southwest. In the study area, 82.33% of the regional vegetation coverage potential index is below 0.5, while only 7.21% of the potential index exceeds a value of 0.75. In Northeast China, areas with a greater potential for vegetation coverage are primarily dispersed in small undulating mountains, indicating that there is still an opportunity for vegetation coverage in Zhaoping County (Figure 4b).

3.1.2. Water Conservation Potential

The existing quantity and possibilities for water conservation in Zhaoping County have been determined. The data indicate that the current water conservation levels vary throughout the county, with higher levels in the northwest and lower levels in the southeast (Figure 5a). The highest recorded water conservation is 2.12 × 10³ m³/hm², which is mainly distributed in rivers and lakes, especially in the Gui Jiang basin. Conversely, the lowest amount is −1.57 × 10³ m³/hm², mainly located in the southern region of Zhaoping. The water conservation potential ranges from 0 to 3.31 × 10³ m³/hm², gradually increasing from northwest to southeast. This tendency contradicts the documented changes in Zhaoping County surface runoff and yearly average precipitation (Figure 5b). Over a quarter of the area’s water conservation potential index exceeds 1 × 10³ m³/hm², predominantly concentrated in the mountainous regions of southern and eastern Zhaoping County. These results suggest that there are considerable possibilities for improving water conservation efforts in these regions.

3.1.3. Windbreak and Sand Fixation Potential

The study conducted in Zhaoping County assessed the current and potential windbreak and sand fixation capabilities of the region. The findings indicate that the highest amount of windbreak and sand fixation in Zhaoping County is 0.24 t/km²·a (Figure 6a), with a relatively uniform spatial distribution. The eastern region exhibits a higher capacity for windbreak and sand fixation. The windbreak and sand fixation potential ranges between 0 and 0.24 t/km²·a, with over 40% of areas having a potential value greater than 0.15 t/km²·a, which is mainly distributed in the middle undulating mountains in the northeast of Zhaoping County and near the Gui Jiang watershed. Factors such as the soil erodibility index, soil crust factor, and organic matter content contribute to strong overall windbreak and sand fixation (Figure 6b).

3.1.4. Biodiversity Potential

The InVEST model was designed to evaluate the habitat quality in the research region and to depict its current biodiversity status. This investigation finds that Zhaoping County has a high level of biodiversity overall, with the exception of a few places in the northeast, northwest, and southeast (Figure 7a). However, the overall biodiversity potential in Zhaoping County is relatively low, with most areas scoring below 0.20. The regions with relatively high potential are generally located in the small undulating mountains of the northeast and on platforms located away from urban areas in the northwest and southeast (Figure 7b).

3.2. Ecological Security Pattern

The ESP is constructed through a process that involves ecological source identification, the construction of an ecological resistance surface, and the identification of ecological corridors (Figure 8a), which results in the determination of four land ecological source areas and six ecological corridors, with a total area of 393.17 km² and a total length of 109.04 km. To study the buffer zone surrounding ecological sources and corridors, the following distances are considered: 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, 4 km, and more than 4 km. The closer a region is to an ecological source and ecological corridor, the greater its TER significance. Low level, comparatively low level, medium level, relatively high level, and high level, are the five categories of ESP proficiency in Zhaoping County (Figure 8b). Approximately 60.42 percent of the total land area of Zhaoping County is classified as high or relatively high level, primarily in the middle and northern sections. In contrast, 27.23 percent of Zhaoping County’s entire area have low and relatively low level ESPs, primarily in the southern part.

3.3. Social Support

The ability for the social support of TER in Zhaoping County was analyzed. The data demonstrate a substantial gap between the average GDP levels of the various towns in Zhaoping County. Specifically, the northern area of Zhaoping, including Zhaoping and Huangyao, has a greater GDP than the relatively lower southern region, including the Muge Township (Figure 9a). This spatial distribution pattern is also reflected in the average public budget expenditure across Zhaoping County. The towns with higher expenditures are Zhaoping, Zouma Township, and Beituo, while the Muge Township and Huangyao have lower expenditures (Figure 9b). The classification results reveal that the majority of communities with a greater capacity for social support are located in the northern region. The municipality with the highest level of support capabilities is Zhaoping, followed by the Zouma Township, Huangyao, and Beiduo. The Muge Township in the south, Fenghuang Township in the east, Wenzhu, and Xianhui Yao Township in the north, have lower a support capacity (Figure 9c).

3.4. Comprehensive Ecological Restoration Potential

The comprehensive ESP results in Zhaoping County indicate that the potential index is between 0 and 1 (Figure 10). Greater potential values are predominantly located in the western and northeastern regions of Zhaoping County, whilst lower potential values are concentrated in the northwestern and southern regions. Specifically, areas with a potential index below 0.2 cover an area of 417.40 km², accounting for 15.18% of the total area of Zhaoping County. Areas with a potential index between 0.2 and 0.3 cover 1366.69 km², accounting for 43.97% of the total area; areas with a potential index between 0.3 and 0.4 cover an area of 855.94 km², accounting for 27.54% of the total area; those between 0.4 and 0.5 cover an area of 303.25 km², accounting for 9.75% of the total area; areas with a potential index greater than 0.5 cover an area of 110.03 km², accounting for 3.54% of the total area.

4. Discussion

4.1. The Ecological Restoration Natural Potential Is the Basic Ecological Restoration Potential

The ERNP in Zhaoping County can be categorized into four types: vegetation coverage potential, water conservation potential, windbreak and sand fixation potential, and biodiversity potential. The distribution of these potentials varies across the study area. The vegetation coverage potential decreases gradually from the northeast to southwest, and areas with high vegetation coverage potential are mainly distributed in small undulating mountains in the northeast; the areas with high water conservation potential are primarily located in the southern and eastern mountainous regions of the study area; and the areas with high windbreak and sand fixation potential are primarily located in the northeast undulating mountains and near the coast. The ERNP exhibits an inverse spatial distribution relationship with current land use patterns. The results of the ERNP analysis strongly correlate with the overall and regional natural conditions, particularly land cover types. Areas with high vegetation coverage mostly consist of woodland and grassland, while those with low vegetation coverage predominantly comprise cultivated land or bare land. Northern Zhaoping County has a greater level of water conservation than southern Zhaoping County, which suggests that southern regions have a stronger capacity for water conservation. The overall windbreak and sand fixation potentials in Zhaoping County are not notably high and are distributed unevenly over the territory. Moreover, Zhaoping County has a generally high biodiversity potential, but its ecological restoration cability remains relatively low. The majority of the county’s ecologically restorable regions are located in the county’s northeast.

4.2. The Ecological Security Pattern and Social Support Affect Ecological Restoration

Low-level, relatively low-level, medium-level, comparatively high-level, and high-level proficiency are the five levels of the ESP in Zhaoping County. Approximately 60.42 percent of Zhaoping County’s total land area is classified as relatively high or high-level. The larger the ESP level, the greater the significance of ecological security and the greater the need for TER. In order to sustain the regional ESP level, TER projects must be implemented in certain regions. A TER project is a comprehensive initiative that requires support from national policies, investments, local economies, policies, and the public. This study primarily uses economic conditions to gauge the scale of SS. In developed regions where there is a significant investment in TER and widespread awareness among the public, implementation of TER projects tends to be smoother. The classification findings for SS in Zhaoping County indicate that the majority of towns with superior SS abilities are located in the northern region.

4.3. Strategies for Improving the Ecological Restoration Potential

The ERNP serves as the foundation of a comprehensive ERP. This paper’s ERNP represents the theoretical potential achievable through TER projects. However, a number of issues prevent its practical application. The ESP and SS are used as correction factors to adjust the ERNP and generate a comprehensive ERP to account for these constraints. The data reveal that the regions with the highest ERP are primarily located in the western, northeastern, and central regions. These regions have a relatively low slope, overall low vegetation coverage, and significant potential for water conservation and windbreak/sand fixation, but low biodiversity potential. Given their high levels of ESPs and substantial presence of SS, it is essential to improve vegetation coverage in these regions while executing ecological diversity protection programs in order to improve the function of regional ecological services. The majority of Zhaoping County’s medium-level comprehensive ERP areas are located in the central, southwest, and southeast regions. These areas have a high vegetation coverage and biodiversity index but low potential for vegetation coverage and biodiversity. However, they have a high potential for water conservation, windbreak, and sand fixation. Therefore, it is important to prioritize water conservation and implement relevant TER projects in these areas. The areas with a low ERP are predominantly situated in parts of the northwest and south areas of Zhaoping County. Despite having high vegetation coverage, strong water conservation capacities, and windbreak/sand fixation measures already in place—resulting from a high biodiversity index—they demonstrate a lower ERNP value than other regions. For these regions, natural protection and restoration efforts should be prioritized; natural restoration should take precedence, while artificial promotion simultaneously supplements these efforts; comprehensive plans encompassing landscape management and forest preservation should be developed to effectively enhance ecological service functions across landscapes, forests, lakes, and grasslands.

5. Conclusions

High-intensity land development and utilization activities have caused problems such as ecological environment destruction and ecosystem function degradation. As China strives to build an ecological civilization, TER is receiving increased attention. As the county is the primary unit for TER implementation, it is vital to examine the ERP. This research covers Zhaoping County in Hezhou City as a case study region, beginning with the definition of the TER objectives and the measurement of the ERNP, which includes plant coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity. The ESP and SS are reviewed based on these readings to alter the ERNP for an appropriate ERP computation. The findings provide recommendations for the natural restoration, pattern optimization, and function enhancement of TER in Zhaoping County. This study reveals that the ERNP in Zhaoping County is mainly affected by ecological function, and there is a big gap between different potentials. The ERP values range from 0 to 1 when the ESP and SS components are taken into account. The majority of places with a higher potential value are located in the west and northeast of Zhaoping County. In comparison, the majority of areas with a lower potential value are located in the northwest and south. These comprehensive ERP findings can inform decisions regarding TER project placement, performance evaluation, and policy formulation.

The calculation methods for ERPs in existing studies are mostly based on a single potential, such as vegetation restoration, water conservation, etc. In the existing potential estimation studies, Marsh et al. used interviews to explore the impact of ecological restoration activities on human well-being [12]; Yan et al. identified the ecological source via the MSPA method and InVEST model, and identified the key areas of ecological restoration for Shanghai’s land space using circuit theory [14]; De Montis et al. constructed an ESP and circuit theory to identify plaques, corridors, and nodes that need ecological restoration, thereby proposing ecological restoration measures [23]; Yi et al. and Zhao et al. calculated the vegetation restoration potential of the Loess Plateau using a similar habitat approach [47,48], etc. However, most of these studies are limited to the TER’s single ecological function potential assessment method, and there are currently few comprehensive analyses. This study explored the comprehensive ERP calculation method considering the ESP and SS from four ERNPs, which makes up for the shortcomings of the existing studies. The method proposed in this study can be applied to most TER areas, especially ecologically fragile areas. Its main advantage is that it can realize the calculation of the ERP by types and stages, and carry out TER engineering arrangements according to regional characteristics and development stages This study calculates ERP entirely based on the current ecological circumstances of the area without accounting for land use changes or climatic variations over time. Therefore, additional research is required to investigate how the ERP may vary in time and space. It is necessary to strengthen the application of real-time ecological monitoring data in the field. The results of this study suggest that the impacts of TER projects on regional ecological quality and ESP should be considered comprehensively in TER planning to maximize the benefits of TER projects. In the process of formulating and implementing ecological restoration policies, it is also necessary to base the policies on regional characteristics and SS, and emphasize the operability of planning and policies.