The Impact of Human Activity Expansion on Habitat Quality in the Yangtze River Basin

Chenchen Bian, Liyan Yang, Xiaozhen Zhao (), Xiaowei Yao () and Lang Xiao
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Chenchen Bian: Department of Geography, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Liyan Yang: Department of Geography, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Xiaozhen Zhao: Department of Geography, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Xiaowei Yao: School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Lang Xiao: Department of Geography, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Globally, natural habitats have suffered tremendous damage from human activities, a phenomenon that is increasingly evident in basin regions. The management of natural habitats in basin regions is dependent on understanding of the various impacts of human activities on these ecosystems. Despite the various studies that have been conducted on the effects of human activities on habitats in basin regions, there is still a lot of doubt regarding the impact of these activities on the quality of basin ecosystems. To fill this gap, this study employs a series of spatial analysis methods and logistic regression modeling to delve into the spatial and temporal patterns of human activities and habitat quality in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) as well as the differences in the impacts of human activities on habitat quality in the sub-basins of the YRB. The findings indicate a 0.408% decline in the overall environmental quality of the YRB area from 2000 to 2020, accompanied by a 15.396% surge in human activities. Notably, the southeastern Qilian Mountains and the mountainous regions in the northwestern sector of the Sichuan Basin emerge as pivotal areas for habitat quality restoration. Conversely, the southwestern Qilian Mountains and the urban clusters in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) face significant habitat quality deterioration. Spatial regression analyses reveal a noteworthy trend: the burgeoning human activities in the Yangtze River region pose a substantial threat to habitat recovery efforts. Further differential analyses focusing on the upper, middle, and lower basin segments underscore that human activities exert the most pronounced impact on habitat quality within the lower basin region, while the upper basin experiences the least influence. The implications of this study are manifold. It furnishes valuable policy insights for the comprehensive management and targeted preservation of habitats across the YRB. By delineating areas of habitat restoration and degradation and highlighting the differential impacts of human activities across basin segments, this research lays a solid foundation for informed decision making in habitat conservation and ecosystem management within the YRB.

Keywords: habitat quality; human activities; spatial analysis; spatial regression; Yangtze River Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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