Identifying the Key Protection Areas of Alpine Marsh Wetlands in the Qinghai Qilian Mountains, China: An Ecosystem Patterns–Characteristics–Functions Combined Method

Lei Wang, Xufeng Mao (), Hongyan Yu, Baowei Zhao, Wenjia Tang, Hongyan Li, Xianying Wang and Nan Zhou
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Lei Wang: School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, China
Xufeng Mao: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Province Key Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Process, College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Hongyan Yu: Management and Service Center of the Qilian Mountain National Park, Xining 810008, China
Baowei Zhao: Management and Service Center of the Qilian Mountain National Park, Xining 810008, China
Wenjia Tang: State Key Laboratory for Environmental Protection Monitoring and Assessment of the Qinghai—Xining Plateau, Xining 810007, China
Hongyan Li: Qinghai Institute of Quality and Standards, Xining 810001, China
Xianying Wang: Management and Service Center of the Qilian Mountain National Park, Xining 810008, China
Nan Zhou: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Province Key Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Process, College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: The alpine marsh wetlands in the Qilian Mountains of Qinghai (QMQ) are under constant threat from the effects of climate change and human activities. Identifying the key ecological protection areas (KEPAs) of marsh wetlands is the prerequisite for formulating protection strategies and executing spatial planning programs. The current study developed a novel method to identify the KEPAs of marsh wetlands by following the ecosystem pattern–characteristics–functions (EPCFs) combined method and the ecological source–ecological corridor–ecological node research paradigm. More specifically, an evaluation system for ecological resistance was constructed by integrating the drivers of EPCFs in the marsh wetlands. Additionally, the marsh wetland degradation disturbances were analyzed through the drivers of EPCFs incorporated with a field survey. The findings indicated the following: (1) The marsh wetlands had a total water yield of approximately 3.96 × 10 8 m 3 . The soil conservation rate and habitat quality per unit area were calculated to be 52.92 t·hm −2 ·a −1 and 0.992, respectively, with higher values observed on the southern bank and lower values on the northern bank of the river in the QMQ. (2) The KEPAs for the marsh wetlands covered a total extent of 996.53 km 2 in the QMQ, encompassing 40 ecological sources, 39 ecological corridors, and 40 ecological nodes, predominantly located in the river source regions. (3) The KEPAs were restructured into an ecological framework comprising two ecological axes, four ecological belts, four ecological cores, and multiple nodes in the QMQ. In response to the factors contributing to the degradation of marsh wetlands, adaptive measures including prioritizing natural restoration, modifying grazing strategies, executing ecological restoration projects as a minimum, and designating protected areas have been recommended. This research could contribute to enhancing the efficiency of regional territorial planning and offer a theoretical foundation for improving the ecological protection framework of regional marsh wetlands.

Keywords: ecological conservation; ecosystem service functions; ecological resistance surface; alpine marsh wetlands; wetland eco-engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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