The article discusses significant land use changes in the Wujiang River Basin, a fragile karst area in Southwest China, from 1985 to 2019, examining their ecological impacts through various analytical methods. Land use has shifted primarily between cropland and forest land, with changes driven by policies such as the return of farmland to forests, leading to a decrease in ecological land (shrubland, grassland) and an increase in living land (impervious surfaces). The study utilized land use transfer matrices, intensity analysis, and land use change trajectory methods to reveal spatial and temporal patterns of land use dynamics, indicating that stable forest land predominated while barren and shrub lands exhibited high change activity. The findings highlight the importance of identifying priority areas for ecological restoration and stress the need for further understanding of the mechanisms behind land use changes and predictions for future trends. Overall, the research provides crucial data for sustainable land management and ecological conservation in the region.
Identifying Key Areas for Ecological Restoration in a Karst Watershed Using Land Use Trajectories
By Terrain News
