Although the theory of ecosystem services (ESs) is important for guiding land-use planning, knowledge of ESs trade-offs and supply–demand mechanisms is still lacking, and the characteristics of the correlation between the size of trade-offs and the balance between supply and demand along the precipitation gradient have not yet been clarified. In order to supplement this area of knowledge of ESs, we selected 30 small watersheds in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas as study units. A biophysical model and socio-economic data were used to calculate supply and demand for carbon sequestration, soil conservation and water yield. Redundancy analysis and regression analysis were used to study the ESs trade-offs, the supply–demand dynamics, and the characteristics of their correlation. The results were as follows. (1) The supply and balance between supply and demand of the three ESs, the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield and the trade-off between soil conservation and water yield trended downwards from the high-precipitation area to the medium-precipitation area to the low-precipitation area. (2) The primary factors influencing balance between supply and demand with regard to carbon sequestration in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were population density and soil organic-matter content, and the size of the conditional effects were greater than 53%. The dominant factor affecting the balance between supply and demand with regard to soil conservation in the three precipitation areas was slope gradient, and the conditional effect was greater than 40%. The most significant determinants of balance between supply and demand with regard to water yield in the three precipitation areas were grassland area, forest area and precipitation, and the conditional effects were greater than 22%. (3) The most significant determinants of the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were forest, soil organic-matter content and population density, and the conditional effects were all greater than 45%; the primary factors affecting the trade-off between soil conservation and water yield in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were grassland and slope gradient, and the conditional effects were all greater than 24%. (4) The relationship between the balance between supply and demand and trade-off size often followed a quadratic function; the next-most-common relationship was a monotonous nonlinear response, and a linear response relationship was relatively rare. This study revealed the factors influencing balance between supply and demand and trade-offs with regard to ESs and the characteristics of their correlations in areas with different degrees of precipitation, which provided a new idea for the synchronous regulation of ESs in the context of conflicts and supply–demand imbalance.
{"title":"Relationship between Ecosystem-Services Trade-Offs and Supply–Demand Balance along a Precipitation Gradient: A Case Study in the Central Loess Plateau of China","authors":"Qiang Feng, Baoling Duan, Xiao Zhang","doi":"10.3390/land13071057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071057","url":null,"abstract":"Although the theory of ecosystem services (ESs) is important for guiding land-use planning, knowledge of ESs trade-offs and supply–demand mechanisms is still lacking, and the characteristics of the correlation between the size of trade-offs and the balance between supply and demand along the precipitation gradient have not yet been clarified. In order to supplement this area of knowledge of ESs, we selected 30 small watersheds in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas as study units. A biophysical model and socio-economic data were used to calculate supply and demand for carbon sequestration, soil conservation and water yield. Redundancy analysis and regression analysis were used to study the ESs trade-offs, the supply–demand dynamics, and the characteristics of their correlation. The results were as follows. (1) The supply and balance between supply and demand of the three ESs, the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield and the trade-off between soil conservation and water yield trended downwards from the high-precipitation area to the medium-precipitation area to the low-precipitation area. (2) The primary factors influencing balance between supply and demand with regard to carbon sequestration in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were population density and soil organic-matter content, and the size of the conditional effects were greater than 53%. The dominant factor affecting the balance between supply and demand with regard to soil conservation in the three precipitation areas was slope gradient, and the conditional effect was greater than 40%. The most significant determinants of balance between supply and demand with regard to water yield in the three precipitation areas were grassland area, forest area and precipitation, and the conditional effects were greater than 22%. (3) The most significant determinants of the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were forest, soil organic-matter content and population density, and the conditional effects were all greater than 45%; the primary factors affecting the trade-off between soil conservation and water yield in high-, medium- and low-precipitation areas were grassland and slope gradient, and the conditional effects were all greater than 24%. (4) The relationship between the balance between supply and demand and trade-off size often followed a quadratic function; the next-most-common relationship was a monotonous nonlinear response, and a linear response relationship was relatively rare. This study revealed the factors influencing balance between supply and demand and trade-offs with regard to ESs and the characteristics of their correlations in areas with different degrees of precipitation, which provided a new idea for the synchronous regulation of ESs in the context of conflicts and supply–demand imbalance.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141647094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
One of the more visible consequences of anthropogenic climate change is the ongoing retreat of glaciers worldwide. Rates of primary succession in the resulting glacial forelands are commonly calculated from a single measurement set using a single set of measurements across a landscape of varying age, but repeated measurements over decadal scales may be a more effective means of examining the rates and trends of colonization and community development. Repeated measurements of vegetation groups in a glacial foreland in southern Iceland demonstrate that successional changes are measurable, as shown by the calculation of the dissimilarity index at sites over a 15 year interval. Inter-site dissimilarity validates the essential paradigm of primary succession, where vegetative coverage increases in the glacial foreland as a function of time and supports earlier interpretations saying that species richness decreases on older surfaces, even as the total vegetation cover increases. However, successional processes are subject to major abiotic factors, such as aspect, which is controlled by landscape topography, and the substrate composition. The glacial moraines and outwash plain are underlain by different substrates which produce separate successional trajectories. Succession on the moraines ultimately produces a birch-shrub-heath community, while the outwash deposits promote development of a moss-heath community.
{"title":"The Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Succession in a Glacial Foreland in Southern Iceland: The Effects of Landscape Heterogeneity","authors":"Lawrence Tanner, Genevieve Kikukawa, Kaylyn Weits","doi":"10.3390/land13071055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071055","url":null,"abstract":"One of the more visible consequences of anthropogenic climate change is the ongoing retreat of glaciers worldwide. Rates of primary succession in the resulting glacial forelands are commonly calculated from a single measurement set using a single set of measurements across a landscape of varying age, but repeated measurements over decadal scales may be a more effective means of examining the rates and trends of colonization and community development. Repeated measurements of vegetation groups in a glacial foreland in southern Iceland demonstrate that successional changes are measurable, as shown by the calculation of the dissimilarity index at sites over a 15 year interval. Inter-site dissimilarity validates the essential paradigm of primary succession, where vegetative coverage increases in the glacial foreland as a function of time and supports earlier interpretations saying that species richness decreases on older surfaces, even as the total vegetation cover increases. However, successional processes are subject to major abiotic factors, such as aspect, which is controlled by landscape topography, and the substrate composition. The glacial moraines and outwash plain are underlain by different substrates which produce separate successional trajectories. Succession on the moraines ultimately produces a birch-shrub-heath community, while the outwash deposits promote development of a moss-heath community.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141646384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Zhang, Huali Tong, Ling Zhao, Enwei Huang, Guofeng Zhu
Human activities exert a profound influence on land use and land cover, and these changes directly influence habitat quality and ecosystem functioning. In the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River, habitat quality has undergone substantial transformations in recent years due to the synergistic impacts of natural processes and human intervention. Therefore, evaluating the effects of land use changes on habitat quality is crucial for advancing regional sustainable development and improving the worth of ecosystem services. In response to these challenges, we devised a two-pronged approach: a land use simulation (FLUS) model and an integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model, leveraging remote sensing data. This integrated methodology establishes a research framework for the evaluation and simulation of spatial and temporal variations in habitat quality. The results of the study show that, firstly, from 1980 to 2020, the habitat quality index in the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River decreased from 0.8528 to 0.8434. Secondly, our predictions anticipate a decrease in habitat quality, although the decline is not pronounced across all scenarios. The highest habitat quality values were projected under the EP (Ecology Priority) scenario, followed by the CLP (Cultivated Land Priority) scenario, while the BAU (Business as Usual) scenario consistently yielded the lowest values in all three scenarios. Finally, the ecological land, including forest land and grassland, consistently occupied areas characterized by high habitat quality. In contrast, Construction land consistently appeared in regions associated with low habitat quality. The implementation of conservation measures emerges as a crucial strategy, effectively limiting the expansion of construction land and promoting the augmentation of forest land and grassland cover. This approach serves to enhance overall habitat quality. These outcomes furnish a scientific foundation for the judicious formulation of future land-use policies and ecological protection measures.
{"title":"Spatial and Temporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Forecasting of Habitat Quality in Gansu–Qinghai Contiguous Region of the Upper Yellow River","authors":"Xuan Zhang, Huali Tong, Ling Zhao, Enwei Huang, Guofeng Zhu","doi":"10.3390/land13071060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071060","url":null,"abstract":"Human activities exert a profound influence on land use and land cover, and these changes directly influence habitat quality and ecosystem functioning. In the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River, habitat quality has undergone substantial transformations in recent years due to the synergistic impacts of natural processes and human intervention. Therefore, evaluating the effects of land use changes on habitat quality is crucial for advancing regional sustainable development and improving the worth of ecosystem services. In response to these challenges, we devised a two-pronged approach: a land use simulation (FLUS) model and an integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model, leveraging remote sensing data. This integrated methodology establishes a research framework for the evaluation and simulation of spatial and temporal variations in habitat quality. The results of the study show that, firstly, from 1980 to 2020, the habitat quality index in the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River decreased from 0.8528 to 0.8434. Secondly, our predictions anticipate a decrease in habitat quality, although the decline is not pronounced across all scenarios. The highest habitat quality values were projected under the EP (Ecology Priority) scenario, followed by the CLP (Cultivated Land Priority) scenario, while the BAU (Business as Usual) scenario consistently yielded the lowest values in all three scenarios. Finally, the ecological land, including forest land and grassland, consistently occupied areas characterized by high habitat quality. In contrast, Construction land consistently appeared in regions associated with low habitat quality. The implementation of conservation measures emerges as a crucial strategy, effectively limiting the expansion of construction land and promoting the augmentation of forest land and grassland cover. This approach serves to enhance overall habitat quality. These outcomes furnish a scientific foundation for the judicious formulation of future land-use policies and ecological protection measures.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141647217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Chen, Sisi Zhong, Xinlan Liang, Yanru Li, Jing Cheng, Ying Cao
Ensuring the harmonization between urbanization and water environment systems is imperative for fostering sustainable regional development in the future. With urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas increasingly dominating urbanization trends in China, it is crucial to explore the interdependent relationship between urbanization and the water environment. Such exploration holds significant implications for water resource management and the formulation of urbanization policies. This study utilizes a comprehensive index system encompassing urbanization and the water environment. It examines the coupled and coordinated spatial and temporal dynamics of these systems within the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration from 2011 to 2019. This analysis employs the Coupled Coordination Degree model alongside the spatial autocorrelation model. The results show that there is still much room for improving the urbanization development level and the water environment quality. During the study period, a nonlinear and nearly U-shaped evolutionary trajectory was observed between the two systems. The results suggest that there is a progression from basic to more advanced coordination between urbanization and water environment at the city cluster scale. Urbanization appears to generally lag behind the water environment in terms of coordination. At the municipal scale, there is a gradient in which some cities show better coordination compared to others. Spatially, the coupling and coordination of this region exhibited dual-core development characteristics centered around Chengdu and Chongqing. The region is in the transition stage towards a core-type networked and decentralized development mode, which has not yet formed an integrated pattern. This offers a theoretical and technical framework for harmonizing water environments and urbanization in similar regions globally.
要促进未来区域的可持续发展，就必须确保城市化与水环境系统之间的协调。随着城市群和大都市区日益成为中国城市化的主导趋势，探讨城市化与水环境之间的相互依存关系至关重要。这种探讨对水资源管理和城市化政策的制定具有重要意义。本研究采用了一个涵盖城市化和水环境的综合指标体系。它考察了 2011 年至 2019 年成渝城市群内这些系统的时空耦合协调动态。分析采用了耦合协调度模型和空间自相关模型。结果表明，城市化发展水平和水环境质量仍有很大的提升空间。在研究期间，两个系统之间出现了非线性和近似 U 型的演化轨迹。研究结果表明，在城市群尺度上，城市化与水环境之间的协调存在一个从基础到高级的发展过程。在协调方面，城市化似乎总体上落后于水环境。在市级范围内，一些城市与其他城市相比表现出更好的协调性。从空间上看，该区域的耦合与协调表现出以成都和重庆为中心的双核发展特征。该地区正处于向核心型网络化、分散型发展模式过渡的阶段，尚未形成一体化格局。这为全球类似地区的水环境与城市化协调提供了理论和技术框架。
{"title":"The Relationship between Urbanization and the Water Environment in the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration","authors":"Yu Chen, Sisi Zhong, Xinlan Liang, Yanru Li, Jing Cheng, Ying Cao","doi":"10.3390/land13071054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071054","url":null,"abstract":"Ensuring the harmonization between urbanization and water environment systems is imperative for fostering sustainable regional development in the future. With urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas increasingly dominating urbanization trends in China, it is crucial to explore the interdependent relationship between urbanization and the water environment. Such exploration holds significant implications for water resource management and the formulation of urbanization policies. This study utilizes a comprehensive index system encompassing urbanization and the water environment. It examines the coupled and coordinated spatial and temporal dynamics of these systems within the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration from 2011 to 2019. This analysis employs the Coupled Coordination Degree model alongside the spatial autocorrelation model. The results show that there is still much room for improving the urbanization development level and the water environment quality. During the study period, a nonlinear and nearly U-shaped evolutionary trajectory was observed between the two systems. The results suggest that there is a progression from basic to more advanced coordination between urbanization and water environment at the city cluster scale. Urbanization appears to generally lag behind the water environment in terms of coordination. At the municipal scale, there is a gradient in which some cities show better coordination compared to others. Spatially, the coupling and coordination of this region exhibited dual-core development characteristics centered around Chengdu and Chongqing. The region is in the transition stage towards a core-type networked and decentralized development mode, which has not yet formed an integrated pattern. This offers a theoretical and technical framework for harmonizing water environments and urbanization in similar regions globally.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chen Zhang, Can Xu, Tianbao Huang, Liankai Zhang, Jinjiang Yang, Guiren Chen, Xiongwei Xu, Fuyan Zou, Zihao Liu, Zhenhui Wang
The dynamic replacement of soil organic carbon represents a pivotal mechanism through which water erosion modulates soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes. However, the extent of this dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon within this process remains unclear. In our study, we focused on Yuanmou County, China, a prototypical region afflicted by water erosion, as our study area. We leveraged the WaTEM/SEDEM model to quantify the dynamic replacement of soil carbon, accounted for the average annual net change in soil carbon pools, and used isotope tracer techniques to track and measure the process of the coupled carbon–water cycling. This comprehensive approach enabled us to scrutinize the dynamic replacement of soil carbon under water erosion and delineate its ramifications for the carbon cycle. Our findings unveiled that the surface soil carbon reservoir in the Yuanmou area receives an annual replacement of 47,600 ± 12,600 tons following water erosion events. A substantial portion, amounting to 39,700 ± 10,500 tons, stems from the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon facilitated by atmospheric carbon. These results underscore the critical role of the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon in altering the soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes under water erosion, thereby influencing the carbon cycle dynamics. Consequently, we advocate for the integration of water erosion processes into regional carbon sink assessments to attain a more comprehensive understanding of regional carbon dynamics.
{"title":"Dynamic Replacement of Soil Inorganic Carbon under Water Erosion","authors":"Chen Zhang, Can Xu, Tianbao Huang, Liankai Zhang, Jinjiang Yang, Guiren Chen, Xiongwei Xu, Fuyan Zou, Zihao Liu, Zhenhui Wang","doi":"10.3390/land13071053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071053","url":null,"abstract":"The dynamic replacement of soil organic carbon represents a pivotal mechanism through which water erosion modulates soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes. However, the extent of this dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon within this process remains unclear. In our study, we focused on Yuanmou County, China, a prototypical region afflicted by water erosion, as our study area. We leveraged the WaTEM/SEDEM model to quantify the dynamic replacement of soil carbon, accounted for the average annual net change in soil carbon pools, and used isotope tracer techniques to track and measure the process of the coupled carbon–water cycling. This comprehensive approach enabled us to scrutinize the dynamic replacement of soil carbon under water erosion and delineate its ramifications for the carbon cycle. Our findings unveiled that the surface soil carbon reservoir in the Yuanmou area receives an annual replacement of 47,600 ± 12,600 tons following water erosion events. A substantial portion, amounting to 39,700 ± 10,500 tons, stems from the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon facilitated by atmospheric carbon. These results underscore the critical role of the dynamic replacement of soil inorganic carbon in altering the soil–atmosphere CO2 fluxes under water erosion, thereby influencing the carbon cycle dynamics. Consequently, we advocate for the integration of water erosion processes into regional carbon sink assessments to attain a more comprehensive understanding of regional carbon dynamics.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chrysoula Pagouni, Francis Pavloudakis, Ioannis Kapageridis, Athena Yiannakou
Post-mining land management is an integral part of surface mining and quarrying operations. In this context, the questions raised concern what course of action is mandated by laws and regulations; what type of land reclamation should be implemented, taking into account the site-specific conditions prevailing in each mining area; what are the appropriate land uses; and by what criteria and methodology can these be determined? The literature review conducted as part of the present study revealed that in addition to the traditional 4R actions of land management, namely remediation, restoration, reclamation, and rehabilitation, two more actions, repurposing and co-purposing, have now been added, with the purpose to address the social and economic impacts of mine closures. Furthermore, numerous land uses were documented and categorized into 11 classes, 38 sub-classes, and 119 alternatives. Nine criteria for selecting land uses were identified, expressed through 72 attributes that served as input information for 22 multicriteria methods, which, in most cases, were applied in combination of two or more.
{"title":"Transitional and Post-Mining Land Uses: A Global Review of Regulatory Frameworks, Decision-Making Criteria, and Methods","authors":"Chrysoula Pagouni, Francis Pavloudakis, Ioannis Kapageridis, Athena Yiannakou","doi":"10.3390/land13071051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071051","url":null,"abstract":"Post-mining land management is an integral part of surface mining and quarrying operations. In this context, the questions raised concern what course of action is mandated by laws and regulations; what type of land reclamation should be implemented, taking into account the site-specific conditions prevailing in each mining area; what are the appropriate land uses; and by what criteria and methodology can these be determined? The literature review conducted as part of the present study revealed that in addition to the traditional 4R actions of land management, namely remediation, restoration, reclamation, and rehabilitation, two more actions, repurposing and co-purposing, have now been added, with the purpose to address the social and economic impacts of mine closures. Furthermore, numerous land uses were documented and categorized into 11 classes, 38 sub-classes, and 119 alternatives. Nine criteria for selecting land uses were identified, expressed through 72 attributes that served as input information for 22 multicriteria methods, which, in most cases, were applied in combination of two or more.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141651225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuchen Zhang, Jianghong Zhu, Lin Wang, Ke Wang, Jianjun Zhang
The Chinese government has implemented numerous ecological policies in Qinghai Province aimed at protecting and restoring the natural ecosystem. Yet, amid global climate change, the precise effects of these policies on ecological improvement remain ambiguous. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of these policies at a regional scale and an analysis of the changes in policy implementation stages to optimize the strategic direction of regional ecological policies. In this study, using mathematical statistics and spatial analysis, we analysed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in Qinghai Province from 2000 to 2023. Further, by systematically reviewing ten major ecological policies currently or previously implemented in the region, we explored the response of vegetation restoration to these policies through both horizontal and vertical evaluations by reasonably delineating the policy study sub-zones. The study identified distinct stages of policy implementation—regreening, stabilizing, and natural recovery—and correlated these stages with the efficacy of policy impacts. Our findings indicate significant vegetation coverage improvements across Qinghai Province over the past two decades, with all ecological policies positively influencing the environment. The main contribution of this study is that it comprehensively evaluates the impact of multiple ecological policies on vegetation restoration at the regional scale, providing a reference for the formulation and adjustment of subsequent ecological policies.
{"title":"Policy-Driven Vegetation Restoration in Qinghai Province: Spatiotemporal Analysis and Policy Evaluation","authors":"Yuchen Zhang, Jianghong Zhu, Lin Wang, Ke Wang, Jianjun Zhang","doi":"10.3390/land13071052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071052","url":null,"abstract":"The Chinese government has implemented numerous ecological policies in Qinghai Province aimed at protecting and restoring the natural ecosystem. Yet, amid global climate change, the precise effects of these policies on ecological improvement remain ambiguous. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of these policies at a regional scale and an analysis of the changes in policy implementation stages to optimize the strategic direction of regional ecological policies. In this study, using mathematical statistics and spatial analysis, we analysed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in Qinghai Province from 2000 to 2023. Further, by systematically reviewing ten major ecological policies currently or previously implemented in the region, we explored the response of vegetation restoration to these policies through both horizontal and vertical evaluations by reasonably delineating the policy study sub-zones. The study identified distinct stages of policy implementation—regreening, stabilizing, and natural recovery—and correlated these stages with the efficacy of policy impacts. Our findings indicate significant vegetation coverage improvements across Qinghai Province over the past two decades, with all ecological policies positively influencing the environment. The main contribution of this study is that it comprehensively evaluates the impact of multiple ecological policies on vegetation restoration at the regional scale, providing a reference for the formulation and adjustment of subsequent ecological policies.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141652468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Quantitative measurement of urban green spaces (UGSs) plays a fundamental role in enhancing their ecological functions and services. Current studies have not adequately analyzed the multifunctional characteristics and the diverse benefits of urban green spaces at the national scale. This study developed a multidimensional indicator system in terms of scale, pattern, and services to measure green spaces in 285 prefecture-level cities in China. The influences of different geographic zones and urban development on UGS characteristics were also investigated. The results showed that per capita area of urban green spaces were significantly different between the two sides of the “Botai Line”, and the UGS structure was mainly dominated by woodlands. Urban green spaces in the central and east had higher fragmentation, lower landscape diversity, and weaker connectivity. The spatial accessibility of green spaces exhibited a “low–high–medium” pattern from north to south in China, with central-eastern China experiencing the worst equity in green space supply. Overall, cities with higher integrated benefits of green spaces were mainly located in Northeast and North China. Type I large cities had higher ratings for UGS characteristics compared with the other types of cities. These findings can serve as solid guidance for cities seeking to build green space systems with highly integrated socio–ecological benefits.
{"title":"Spatial Heterogeneity Analysis of the Multidimensional Characteristics of Urban Green Spaces in China—A Study Based on 285 Prefecture-Level Cities","authors":"Wei Zhao, Dianfeng Liu, Jiqiang Niu, Jianhua He, Feng Xu","doi":"10.3390/land13071050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071050","url":null,"abstract":"Quantitative measurement of urban green spaces (UGSs) plays a fundamental role in enhancing their ecological functions and services. Current studies have not adequately analyzed the multifunctional characteristics and the diverse benefits of urban green spaces at the national scale. This study developed a multidimensional indicator system in terms of scale, pattern, and services to measure green spaces in 285 prefecture-level cities in China. The influences of different geographic zones and urban development on UGS characteristics were also investigated. The results showed that per capita area of urban green spaces were significantly different between the two sides of the “Botai Line”, and the UGS structure was mainly dominated by woodlands. Urban green spaces in the central and east had higher fragmentation, lower landscape diversity, and weaker connectivity. The spatial accessibility of green spaces exhibited a “low–high–medium” pattern from north to south in China, with central-eastern China experiencing the worst equity in green space supply. Overall, cities with higher integrated benefits of green spaces were mainly located in Northeast and North China. Type I large cities had higher ratings for UGS characteristics compared with the other types of cities. These findings can serve as solid guidance for cities seeking to build green space systems with highly integrated socio–ecological benefits.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141652066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daer Su, Jie Chen, Hongyu Li, S. Luo, Jing Xie, Huixin Wang, Fuhao Sun, Wanyue Ren, Takeshi Kinoshita
People’s reduced connection with nature has led to many health problems. In the NBS framework, urban wildscapes (UWSs) are considered an important solution. They can contribute to improving the health of residents and ecosystems within the city. However, overly wild green spaces may also be offensive to residents. It is necessary to understand the public’s acceptance of UWSs. Current studies on the acceptance of UWSs have used vague terms to generalize the “wildness degree”. In this study, we attempted to quantify the degree of wildness using plant height and plant abundance in Japan and analyzed the results through mediated effect analysis. We discovered the following: 1. Japanese residents have low acceptance of UWSs in vacant lots. 2. The use of “height” and “abundance” may be a more objective way to quantify wildness. 3. The negative effects of abundance can be minimized. The negative effect of height cannot be controlled. This study addresses a gap in the study of Asian cities and proposes a novel approach to quantifying “wildness.” It improves the health benefits of UWSs. Furthermore, it can offer guidance on the management and construction of urban green spaces.
{"title":"Quantifying the Wild: Public Acceptance and Challenges of Urban Wildscapes in Chiba, Japan","authors":"Daer Su, Jie Chen, Hongyu Li, S. Luo, Jing Xie, Huixin Wang, Fuhao Sun, Wanyue Ren, Takeshi Kinoshita","doi":"10.3390/land13071048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071048","url":null,"abstract":"People’s reduced connection with nature has led to many health problems. In the NBS framework, urban wildscapes (UWSs) are considered an important solution. They can contribute to improving the health of residents and ecosystems within the city. However, overly wild green spaces may also be offensive to residents. It is necessary to understand the public’s acceptance of UWSs. Current studies on the acceptance of UWSs have used vague terms to generalize the “wildness degree”. In this study, we attempted to quantify the degree of wildness using plant height and plant abundance in Japan and analyzed the results through mediated effect analysis. We discovered the following: 1. Japanese residents have low acceptance of UWSs in vacant lots. 2. The use of “height” and “abundance” may be a more objective way to quantify wildness. 3. The negative effects of abundance can be minimized. The negative effect of height cannot be controlled. This study addresses a gap in the study of Asian cities and proposes a novel approach to quantifying “wildness.” It improves the health benefits of UWSs. Furthermore, it can offer guidance on the management and construction of urban green spaces.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The traditional settlements are of paramount significance as indispensable elements of China’s cultural heritage, simultaneously functioning as prime assets for the enhancement of rural economic and social dynamics. Nestled within the comprehensive framework of China’s rural revitalization endeavor and Shandong Province’s proactive initiatives toward the amalgamation of cultural and tourism sectors, a meticulous exploration of the spatiotemporal evolution and connectivity of traditional villages in Shandong Province is indispensable for their preservation and forward-thinking evolution. For this study, 557 traditional villages across Shandong Province are identified as pivotal points, with the application of geographic information system (GIS) techniques to scrutinize their spatiotemporal transformation patterns and spatial characteristics. Additionally, a suite of analytical instruments, encompassing metrics for accessibility assessment, ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models, are deployed to evaluate the accessibility levels and influential factors shaping traditional villages within the region. The analytical outcomes reveal the following: (1) Chronologically, approximately 80% of the traditional villages in the province of Shandong were established during the Ming and Qing epochs, and they demonstrate a migratory pattern that is spatially and temporally oriented from “southwest to northeast”; geographically, these traditional villages are characterized by pronounced clustering, predominantly situated at the confluence of Jinan and Zibo Cities, the Shantou District of Zaozhuang City, Zhaoyuan City of Yantai City, and Rongcheng City of Weihai City, forming a coherent “four-core” spatial distribution configuration. (2) Considering the criteria for village location, traditional villages in Shandong are predominantly found in areas with a predominantly flat landscape and a certain proximity to water bodies. (3) On the whole, the accessibility of traditional villages in Shandong is relatively high, with the average accessibility assessed at 199.92 min, a range spanning from 175 min, and approximately 57.99% of the villages falling within the 100 to 200 min accessibility bracket, indicating a systematic decline in accessibility from the central areas to the periphery. (4) The pivotal factors influencing the accessibility of traditional villages in Shandong are primarily altitude, slope, and road network density, with altitude and slope showing a negative correlation with accessibility, whereas road network density exhibits a positive correlation, and the proximity to water bodies has a relatively minor impact on accessibility.
{"title":"Research on the Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Accessibility of Traditional Villages Based on Geographic Information Systems—A Case Study of Shandong Province, China","authors":"Bingliang Li, Yuefeng Lu, Yudi Li, Huaiying Zuo, Ziqi Ding","doi":"10.3390/land13071049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071049","url":null,"abstract":"The traditional settlements are of paramount significance as indispensable elements of China’s cultural heritage, simultaneously functioning as prime assets for the enhancement of rural economic and social dynamics. Nestled within the comprehensive framework of China’s rural revitalization endeavor and Shandong Province’s proactive initiatives toward the amalgamation of cultural and tourism sectors, a meticulous exploration of the spatiotemporal evolution and connectivity of traditional villages in Shandong Province is indispensable for their preservation and forward-thinking evolution. For this study, 557 traditional villages across Shandong Province are identified as pivotal points, with the application of geographic information system (GIS) techniques to scrutinize their spatiotemporal transformation patterns and spatial characteristics. Additionally, a suite of analytical instruments, encompassing metrics for accessibility assessment, ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models, are deployed to evaluate the accessibility levels and influential factors shaping traditional villages within the region. The analytical outcomes reveal the following: (1) Chronologically, approximately 80% of the traditional villages in the province of Shandong were established during the Ming and Qing epochs, and they demonstrate a migratory pattern that is spatially and temporally oriented from “southwest to northeast”; geographically, these traditional villages are characterized by pronounced clustering, predominantly situated at the confluence of Jinan and Zibo Cities, the Shantou District of Zaozhuang City, Zhaoyuan City of Yantai City, and Rongcheng City of Weihai City, forming a coherent “four-core” spatial distribution configuration. (2) Considering the criteria for village location, traditional villages in Shandong are predominantly found in areas with a predominantly flat landscape and a certain proximity to water bodies. (3) On the whole, the accessibility of traditional villages in Shandong is relatively high, with the average accessibility assessed at 199.92 min, a range spanning from 175 min, and approximately 57.99% of the villages falling within the 100 to 200 min accessibility bracket, indicating a systematic decline in accessibility from the central areas to the periphery. (4) The pivotal factors influencing the accessibility of traditional villages in Shandong are primarily altitude, slope, and road network density, with altitude and slope showing a negative correlation with accessibility, whereas road network density exhibits a positive correlation, and the proximity to water bodies has a relatively minor impact on accessibility.","PeriodicalId":508186,"journal":{"name":"Land","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141651123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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