Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Ecological Connectivity in the Ethnic Areas, Sichuan Province, China

Shili Guo, Xian Deng (), Jiaxuan Ran () and Xiangyu Ding
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Shili Guo: School of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Xian Deng: Office Service Center of Standing Committee of Nei Jiang Municipal People’s Congress, Neijiang 641000, China
Jiaxuan Ran: School of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Xiangyu Ding: China Western Economic Research Center, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-22

Abstract: With ongoing economic and social development, natural habitats are becoming increasingly fragmented, blocking habitat connections and reducing landscape connectivity. The study of changes in ecological connectivity can provide valuable information for habitat and landscape restoration, which are necessary for sustainable regional development. Despite the growing interest in this issue, studies that reveal the change in ecological connectivity in the compounded areas of ecological vulnerability and deep poverty are still lacking. In this paper, one of the most underdeveloped and ecologically fragile southwestern ethnic regions of China, the Sanzhou region of Sichuan Province, was the study area. Based on a vector map of current land-use status and vector data on ecosystem factors and nature reserves in 2010 and 2015, the change in ecological connectivity was analyzed using the minimum cumulative resistance model using GIS spatial analysis method. Firstly, ecological sources were identified based on the distribution of ecological functional areas. Secondly, the ecological resistance surface based on ecosystem service value is revised by integrating the three dimensions of topography and hydrology, ecological environment and development, and utilization intensity. Finally, the ecological connectivity of ethnic areas in southwest China in 2010 and 2015 was compared and analyzed through the perspective of ecological resistance. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2015, the overall ecological connectivity decreased. (2) There were six areas of high ecological resistance featuring human activity and ecological degradation: the Anning River Valley in Liangshan Prefecture, Ganzi, Dege and Luho counties in Ganzi Prefecture, and Ruoergai and Hongyuan counties in Aba Prefecture. (3) Low ecological resistance areas were more numerous and widely distributed, forming an ecological protection barrier for the three autonomous prefectures, and regulating and protecting their natural environments. It is necessary to maintain and strengthen this protection; accordingly, measures are proposed to improve ecological connectivity. This study provides a reference for achieving ecological security and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in this region.

Keywords: ecosystem service; ecological connectivity; ecological resistance; minimum cumulative resistance model; spatial and temporal patterns; ethnic areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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