###### Abstract  
Exploring the mechanisms and processes of land-use transitions (LUTs) and their impact on ecosystem services can effectively elucidate the intricate interactions between human and natural systems, which is pivotal for advancing the sustainable development of regional economies and enhancing ecological environments. However, the existing literature lacks comprehensive analysis regarding the spatial and temporal evolution of LUTs, with insufficient integration of the \"spatial pattern\" and \"time process\". Moreover, traditional assessments of the ecosystem services value (ESV) often overlook their negative costs. To address these gaps, this study first utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform and employed the random forest algorithm to conduct supervised classification on Landsat remote-sensing images from the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 within the research area, thereby obtaining land-use data for three distinct periods. And then, we investigated the geographic features of LUTs and their ecological effects in the Ningde City of China from 2000 to 2020. The geo-informatic Tupu model and a newly revised method of benefit transfer were primarily employed for this purpose. The findings indicate the following: (1) Over the study period, the land-use structure of Ningde City predominantly comprised cultivated land and forest land, with continuous decreases in both types and a concurrent increase in built-up land. (2) Significant disparities exist in the spatial distribution of Tupu units, notably with \"forest land \(\rightarrow\) cultivated land\" and \"cultivated land \(\rightarrow\) built-up land\" as crucial units influencing ESV changes. (3) The ESV in Ningde City decreased from CNY 1105.54 \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\) to CNY 1020.47 \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\) over 2000-2020, while the ecosystem dis-services value exhibited an opposing trend, rising from CNY 12.68 \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\) to CNY 20.39 \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\). (4) The net ESV in Ningde City showed a decline over the same period, indicating a certain vulnerability in the city's ecological system structure. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the influence of land-use patterns on ESV, offering valuable insights for regional ecological-environment management and land-use policy formulation, thereby fostering sustainable development in ecological, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. Furthermore, the results serve as a reference for evaluating net ecosystem services value in other countries/regions. geo-informatic Tupu; ecosystem services value; ecosystem dis-services; land-use change; benefit-transfer method +
Footnote †: journal: Applied Sciences
humans directly or indirectly derive from ecosystems [1; 2; 3; 4]. The ESs approach is widely recognized as a promising avenue for achieving sustainable development goals [5]. Sustainable development programs, by providing ecosystem services value (ESV), offer a balanced framework aligning economic and environmental agendas, thus constituting an optimal strategy for urban development [6; 7]. Land-use transitions (LUTs) arise from the interaction between human socio-economic activities and the natural environment [8]. Various land-use types possess distinct capacities to deliver diverse types, quantities, and qualities of ecosystem services. LUTs serve as primary drivers of ecosystem services and climate change, consequently rendering ecosystems vulnerable [9; 10; 11]. Acting as a bridge between nature and society, ESs intricately connect LUTs with human well-being, thereby serving as a crucial nexus for regional ecological security and socio-economic development [12; 13]. However, alongside urbanization, industrialization, and socio-economic development, certain unsustainable land-use patterns have inflicted severe damage on ecosystems [14; 15; 16], significantly diminishing the regional ecosystem services value and impairing the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential services [9; 17; 18].