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Ecological Security Pattern Construction in Loess Plateau Areas—A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China

Author

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  • Yongyong Fu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Wenjia Zhang

    (College of Environment and Resource Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Feng Gao

    (College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Xu Bi

    (College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Ping Wang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Xiaojun Wang

    (College of Environment and Resource Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China)

Abstract

Strong soil erosion and increasing human activities have made Loess Plateau areas ecologically fragile regions. Constructing the ecological security pattern (ESP) is imperative to maintain their ecosystem functions and sustainable development. However, it is still challenging to establish the ESP in such an unstable and scattered ecological environment. In this study, we take Shanxi Province, which suffers severe ecological problems in Loess Plateau areas, as an example to construct the ESP in a pattern of “source-resistance-corridor”. The proposed methods include the following steps: (1) potential ecological sources are selected with important ecosystem functions based on contributions of soil and water conservation, habitat quality, and carbon storage; (2) ecological sources are determined by considering core areas at the landscape scale based on morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) along with stability based on dynamic assessment on previous sources; (3) the comprehensive resistance surface is constructed by multiple resistance factors and remotely sensed nighttime light data; (4) ecological corridors are simulated and extracted based on circuit theory. As a result, the proposed ESP in our study area mainly includes 13,592 km 2 of ecological sources, 8519.64 km of ecological corridors, and 277 ecological nodes. Meanwhile, an ecological framework of “two axes, three belts, and three zones” was proposed based on the optimization and reorganization of ecological components within the ESP. Our research lays a methodological and practical foundation for regional ESP construction and sustainable development in Loess Plateau areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongyong Fu & Wenjia Zhang & Feng Gao & Xu Bi & Ping Wang & Xiaojun Wang, 2024. "Ecological Security Pattern Construction in Loess Plateau Areas—A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:5:p:709-:d:1397102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Feng & Ye, Yaping & Song, Bowen & Wang, Rusong, 2015. "Evaluation of urban suitable ecological land based on the minimum cumulative resistance model: A case study from Changzhou, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 194-203.
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    4. Zhenfeng Wang & Yan Liu & Xiangqun Xie & Xinke Wang & Hong Lin & Huili Xie & Xingzhao Liu, 2022. "Identifying Key Areas of Green Space for Ecological Restoration Based on Ecological Security Patterns in Fujian Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yilin Lin & Fengru Liu & Zhiyuan Ma & Junsan Zhao & Han Xue, 2025. "Constructing an Ecological Security Pattern Coupled with Climate Change and Ecosystem Service Valuation: A Case Study of Yunnan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-29, October.
    3. Zhen Liu & Xiaodan Li & Haoyu Tao & Qi Yang & Zhiping Liu & Jing Li, 2025. "Synergistic Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of High-Quality Economic Development and Green Space Ecological Benefits at Multiple Spatial Scales: Evidence from Shanxi Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-46, April.
    4. Yuchi Cai & Hong Li & Wancong Li, 2024. "Optimization of a “Social-Ecological” System Pattern from the Perspective of Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand: A Case Study of Jilin Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-31, October.

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