Summary:
Habitat quality (HQ) is crucial for species development and ecosystem security, particularly in the context of rising land use changes due to population growth and economic development. The demand for land has led to significant habitat degradation, threatening biodiversity. Traditional HQ assessments, which relied on extensive field surveys, have shifted towards using advanced remote sensing technologies and ecological models like InVEST, which efficiently evaluate HQ across different scales.
In the Min River Basin of China’s Upper Yangtze, diverse land use types are critical for ecological functions; however, rapid changes in land use have adversely affected HQ. This study employed the PLUS-InVEST model to simulate future land changes and their effects on HQ under different scenarios: a natural development scenario (ND) and a planning protection scenario (PP). Results indicated that under the ND scenario, cultivated land decreases and construction land increases, leading to declining HQ. In contrast, the PP scenario imposes restrictions on land use change, resulting in marginal increases in HQ.
The data revealed that HQ trends from 1990 to 2020 showed a decrease in the area of high HQ and an increase in low HQ, indicating ongoing habitat degradation. Key factors influencing HQ included DEM, slope, and population density, with natural geographical features being predominant drivers.
Ecological zoning identified three zones: priority protected, priority recovery, and appropriate development zones, systematically aiming to balance economic development with habitat preservation. The study underscores the necessity for sustainable land management practices to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem stability in the Min River Basin while minimizing human impact.
The research highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and adaptive management strategies to protect habitats and support ecological integrity in the context of continuous land use changes.
