The Synergistic Effects of Climate Change and Human Activities on Wetland Expansion in Xinjiang

Jiaorong Qian, Yaning Chen (), Yonghui Wang (), Yupeng Li, Zhi Li, Gonghuan Fang, Chuanxiu Liu, Yihan Wang and Zhixiong Wei
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Jiaorong Qian: College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Yaning Chen: College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Yonghui Wang: College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Yupeng Li: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Zhi Li: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Gonghuan Fang: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Chuanxiu Liu: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Yihan Wang: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Zhixiong Wei: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Wetlands function as crucial transitional zones between land and water ecosystems worldwide, contributing significantly to the stability of local ecosystems. However, there is limited research on landscape changes in Xinjiang’s arid interior regions and the factors driving these changes. This study uses data reanalysis techniques to examine the spatial and temporal evolution and landscape patterns of wetlands, as well as their driving forces, in Xinjiang between 1990 and 2023. The results show that over the past three decades, the wetland area in Xinjiang has grown from 18,427 km 2 in 1990 to 21,532 km 2 in 2023, with an annual increase of about 94 km 2 . The greatest growth in wetlands, particularly lakes, marshes, and rivers, has occurred around the periphery of the Tarim Basin and the Ili River Basin, while mountainous areas have seen slight reductions. The distribution pattern shows higher wetland coverage in southern Xinjiang and less coverage in the north, with the largest proportion of wetlands found in the south. Additionally, wetland expansion has led to improvements in the number, density, aggregation, and connectivity of wetland patches, while the complexity of their shapes has decreased. The overall habitat quality of wetlands has also improved over time. Attribution analysis highlights that the rise in runoff due to temperature increases over the past 30 years is a major driver of wetland expansion, with warming accounting for the largest share of expansion in lakes (36%) and in rivers (47.9%). Furthermore, the implementation of large-scale engineering measures, such as ecological water diversion, water-saving irrigation, and reservoir management, has contributed significantly to wetland expansion and ecological restoration. These results provide useful insights for the long-term conservation and management of wetland resources in the arid areas of Xinjiang.

Keywords: wetland landscape evolution; wetland habitat assessment; climate change; human activities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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