Ecological restoration optimizes regional ecosystem health in the rapidly urbanizing regions: A case study of Zhejiang Province, China

Ecological restoration has become increasingly crucial for counteracting ecosystem degradation driven by rapid urbanization. This study quantitatively evaluates the impact of ecological restoration on regional ecosystem health from 2018 to 2023, using Zhejiang Province, China as a representative case. Employing the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework, we constructed a comprehensive ecosystem health index (EHI) integrating 11 indicators across anthropogenic pressure, land use state, and landscape response. Regression models were applied to 572 ecological restoration projects across 90 counties, with climate, topography, and socioeconomic factors serving as covariates. Results demonstrate that Zhejiang Province exhibited a significant improvement in EHI, rising from 0.42 in 2018 to 0.50 in 2023. A strong positive correlation between ecological restoration density and EHI (β = 0.458, p < 0.001) confirms that restoration enhances regional ecosystem health. Spatial heterogeneity analysis reveals higher restoration efficiency in flat terrain compared to rugged areas, and stronger effects in regions with lower cropland proportion or higher GDP per capita. We propose that the underlying impact mechanism involves synergistic optimization of land use structure and landscape pattern. This study provides empirical evidence and transferable frameworks for ecological restoration management in rapidly developing regions.