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Spatial Pattern of Changing Vegetation Dynamics and Its Driving Factors across the Yangtze River Basin in Chongqing: A Geodetector-Based Study

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  • Bo Yao

    (Observation and Research Station of Ecological Restoration for Chongqing Typical Mining Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lei Ma

    (Observation and Research Station of Ecological Restoration for Chongqing Typical Mining Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    Wansheng Mining Area Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Chongqing Observation and Research Station, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Hongtao Si

    (Observation and Research Station of Ecological Restoration for Chongqing Typical Mining Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    Wansheng Mining Area Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Chongqing Observation and Research Station, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Shaohua Li

    (Observation and Research Station of Ecological Restoration for Chongqing Typical Mining Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    Wansheng Mining Area Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Chongqing Observation and Research Station, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Xiangwen Gong

    (Observation and Research Station of Ecological Restoration for Chongqing Typical Mining Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Wansheng Mining Area Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Chongqing Observation and Research Station, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Xuyang Wang

    (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Revealing the spatial dynamics of vegetation change in Chongqing and their driving mechanisms is of major value to regional ecological management and conservation. Using several data sets, including the SPOT Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), meteorological, soil, digital elevation model (DEM), human population density and others, combined with trend analysis, stability analysis, and geographic detectors, we studied the pattern of temporal and spatial variation in the NDVI and its stability across Chongqing from 2000 to 2019, and quantitatively analyzed the relative contribution of 18 drivers (natural or human variables) that could influence vegetation dynamics. Over the 20-year period, we found that Chongqing region’s NDVI had an annual average value of 0.78, and is greater than 0.7 for 93.52% of its total area. Overall, the NDVI increased at a rate of 0.05/10 year, with 81.67% of the areas undergoing significant expansion, primarily in the metropolitan areas of Chongqing’s Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGR) and Wuling Mountain Area (WMA). The main factors influencing vegetation change were human activities, climate, and topography, for which the most influential variables respectively were night light brightness (NLB, 51.9%), annual average air temperature (TEM, 47%), and elevation (ELE, 44.4%). Furthermore, we found that interactions between differing types of factors were stronger than those arising between similar ones; of all pairwise interaction types tested, 92.9% of them were characterized by two-factor enhancement. The three most powerful interactions detected were those for NLB ∩ TEM (62.7%), NLB ∩ annual average atmospheric pressure (PRS, 62.7%), and NLB ∩ ELE (61.9%). Further, we identified the most appropriate kind or range of key elements shaping vegetation development and dynamics. Altogether, our findings can serve as a timely scientific foundation for developing a vegetative resource management strategy for the Yangtze River basin that duly takes into account local climate, terrain, and human activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Yao & Lei Ma & Hongtao Si & Shaohua Li & Xiangwen Gong & Xuyang Wang, 2023. "Spatial Pattern of Changing Vegetation Dynamics and Its Driving Factors across the Yangtze River Basin in Chongqing: A Geodetector-Based Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:269-:d:1039127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ming Shi & Fei Lin & Xia Jing & Bingyu Li & Jingsha Qin & Manqi Wang & Yang Shi & Yimin Hu, 2023. "Research on the Spatio-Temporal Changes of Vegetation and Its Driving Forces in Shaanxi Province in the Past 20 Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Yating Zhao & Chunming Hu & Xi Dong & Jun Li, 2023. "NDVI Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Typical Ecosystems in the Semi-Arid Region of Northern China: A Case Study of the Hulunbuir Grassland," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, March.

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