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Land
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Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas
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Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 9 February 2025 | Viewed by 6637

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wei Deng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
2. Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Interests: mountain research and development; land space use
Prof. Dr. Quanzhi Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
Interests: physical geography; climate change ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The mountain ecosystem provides an important material basis and ecological services for the development of human society, and the stability and sustainability of its landscape ecological structure and function have become necessary conditions for regional sustainable development. However, global climate change and the continuous development of human society make the mountain ecosystem bear great stress directly or indirectly. These stresses lead to many ecological risks. The scientific assessment and management of these ecological risks is an important prerequisite for mountain resources and the environment to support sustainable economic and social development. With the rapid development of ecological risk assessment research, the research scale extends from patch to landscape. The evaluation object extends from a single ecosystem to a variety of ecosystems and is associated with social networks, so it is urgent to update the methodology of ecological risk assessment. Landscape ecology combines the traditional ecological methods of studying the structure and function of the ecosystem with the geographical thinking that emphasizes the law of spatial differentiation, which provides important ideological guidance for the study of ecological risks from the perspective of regional integration of geo-ecological processes. Therefore, the landscape ecological risk assessment based on the correlation between landscape ecological process and spatial pattern arises at the historic moment. Landscape ecological risk refers to the severity and possibility of adverse consequences caused by the interaction between landscape patterns and ecological processes under the influence of natural or man-made factors. Landscape ecological risk assessment can clarify the main ecological elements and processes that restrict regional ecological sustainability. It can provide the decision-making basis for comprehensive risk prevention in mountainous areas and effectively guide the optimization and management of landscape patterns in mountainous areas.

Starting from the need for sustainable development in mountain areas, the purpose of this Special Issue is to explore the methods of landscape ecological risk assessment in mountain areas, the indexing approach of models, and the setting of evaluation index weights, to clarify the basic principles and methods of mountain landscape ecological risk assessment. We will explore the key research direction of mountain landscape ecological risk assessment and provide new ideas and methods for accelerating the development of the mountain landscape ecological risk research field. We will bring together relevant original research, build an academic sharing platform, and encourage scientific and rigorous analysis and discussion.

This Special Issue welcomes high-quality original research and review articles related to the ecological risk of mountain landscapes. This will focus on the following topics, but are not limited to:

  • Risk assessment and prevention of landscape ecology in the mountain area;
  • Changes and driving forces of landscape ecological risk in the mountain area;
  • Simulation and prediction of landscape ecological risk in the mountain area;
  • Landscape ecological response of mountain area under a changing environment—pattern, process, and effect;
  • Landscape ecological structure and function and watershed safety in mountain and valley areas.
Prof. Dr. Wei Deng
Prof. Dr. Quanzhi Yuan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • landscape ecological risk
  • mountain areas
  • structure and function
  • changing environment
  • simulation and prediction
  • landscape ecological response

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 17708 KiB  
Article
Construction of Landscape Ecological Risk Collaborative Management Network in Mountainous Cities—A Case Study of Zhangjiakou
by Mu Li, Lingli Zhang, Yuanyuan Chen, Shuangliang Liu, Mingyao Cai and Qiangqiang Sun
Land 2024, 13(10), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101586 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 471
Abstract
The prevention of ecological risks is a critical determinant influencing sustainable development. Driven by rapid socio-economic development, the ecosystems of mountainous cities within agro-pastoral transition zones are increasingly vulnerable to complex disturbances, constituting a significant threat to sustainable development and human well-being. To [...] Read more.
The prevention of ecological risks is a critical determinant influencing sustainable development. Driven by rapid socio-economic development, the ecosystems of mountainous cities within agro-pastoral transition zones are increasingly vulnerable to complex disturbances, constituting a significant threat to sustainable development and human well-being. To help achieve sustainable development, it is essential to conduct research on addressing and mitigating ecological risks from the perspective of collaborative management networks in mountainous cities. Taking Zhangjiakou as the study area, this paper employed the land use transfer matrix and standard deviation ellipse methods to analyze the dynamic land use changes. Additionally, using Fragstats 4,2 to calculate the landscape indices with land use data, this paper evaluated the landscape ecological risk (LER) from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, the social network analysis (SNA) method was utilized to explore the spatial correlation characteristics of the LER. The findings indicate that: (1) Cultivated land and grassland were the predominant land use types in Zhangjiakou. During 2000–2020, Zhangjiakou experienced significant changes in land use, dominated by the transfer among cultivated land, forestland, and grassland. It indicated that the issue of unstable ecological land use continued to exist. Affected by human activities, construction land showed a consistent upward trend, primarily concentrated in the urban built-up areas and areas along the Jing-Zhang Railway. (2) The LER of Zhangjiakou was predominantly characterized by low risk, medium risk, and high risk levels. In the transitional areas and foothills, the LER was relatively higher. During 2000–2020, Zhangjiakou showed a declining trend of LER. This suggested that the ecological protection policies in Zhangjiakou were effective, leading to an improvement in the local ecological environment. (3) The LER in Zhangjiakou demonstrated a spatial clustering pattern that exhibited an upward trend, which was supported by both spatial autocorrelation and the SNA analysis. In the LER collaborative management network, Xuanhua, Qiaodong, Qiaoxi, Wanquan and Zhangbei consistently upheld pivotal roles. Based on the number of inward and outward connections, 16 counties in Zhangjiakou were classified into four categories and three zones accompanied by corresponding recommendations. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable reference for subsequent landscape pattern optimization and ecological restoration in Zhangjiakou. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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14 pages, 22462 KiB  
Article
Effects of Patchiness on Soil Properties and Degradation of Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
by Wei Zhang, Shuhua Yi, Yu Qin and Jinglin Zhang
Land 2024, 13(10), 1556; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101556 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 585
Abstract
Patchiness is known to affect soil water and soil temperature, and may trigger or accelerate alpine meadow degradation. However, there is a lack of direct evidence concerning the role of the size and type of patches on soil conditions. Here, we estimated the [...] Read more.
Patchiness is known to affect soil water and soil temperature, and may trigger or accelerate alpine meadow degradation. However, there is a lack of direct evidence concerning the role of the size and type of patches on soil conditions. Here, we estimated the effects of typical patch types on the critical factors of soil water and soil temperature through an in situ survey and then analyzed the potential impacts of patchiness on alpine meadow degradation. The results showed that (1) the soil water storage (SWS) of typical patch types was remarkably different, and vegetation patches had higher SWS than bare patches; (2) with abundant precipitation, the isolated vegetation patch (IV) had higher SWS than the original vegetation patch (OV), accompanied by a decrease in the SWS of the surrounding medium bare patch (MP); (3) patchiness significantly altered the surface soil temperature, with the IV having the highest soil temperature (ST), followed by the OV and bare patches; and (4) the maximum mean value of evapotranspiration was observed in IV (3.85 mm/day), about 12.78% and 46.66% higher than in the bare patches and OV. Our findings indicated that patchiness intensified the heterogeneity of soil water and soil temperature. The IV could absorb soil water from surrounding MP for excessive evapotranspiration through constant high ST, potentially inducing or aggravating degradation. Increasing the connectivity of IV and preventing the transition of OV to IV is important for the stability and restoration of alpine meadow. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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21 pages, 5137 KiB  
Article
Using Ecological Footprint Analysis to Evaluate Sustainable Development in Lushan County, China
by Huihui Yang, Shuiyu Yan, Na An and Qiang Yao
Land 2024, 13(7), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071081 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 678
Abstract
Mountain town ecosystems are fragile and highly susceptible to the impacts of human activities and ecological imbalances. This study aimed to improve the traditional ecological footprint (EF) model by incorporating expanded land functions, localised factors, and temporal continuity. Using Lushan County in Sichuan [...] Read more.
Mountain town ecosystems are fragile and highly susceptible to the impacts of human activities and ecological imbalances. This study aimed to improve the traditional ecological footprint (EF) model by incorporating expanded land functions, localised factors, and temporal continuity. Using Lushan County in Sichuan Province as a case study, we calculated spatial and temporal changes from 2009 to 2022 and evaluated sustainable development through four indicators: ecological pressure, ecological sustainability, ecological occupation, and ecological–economic coordination. The results show that from 2009 to 2022, the per capita ecological carbon footprint in Lushan County decreased by 48%, and the ecological carrying capacity declined by 9%. Despite a more than 73% reduction in the ecological surplus, indicating gradual ecological recovery, Lushan County remains in an ecological deficit state with increasing ecological unsustainability. Only forest land is in an ecological surplus state among the six land use categories, while all other categories are in ecological deficit states. Regarding ecological sustainability assessment, Lushan County’s overall land use is in a strong sustainability state, with the sustainable development index gradually improving. However, ecological–economic coordination remains poor, with a high ecological occupation index and significant ecological pressure, indicating an imbalance between economic development and ecosystem protection. For future sustainable development in mountainous areas, Lushan County should focus on reducing the ecological carbon footprint and enhancing the ecological carrying capacity. These research findings provide valuable insights and methodological references for the sustainable development of mountain towns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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18 pages, 12403 KiB  
Article
Ecological Risk Assessment of Land Use Change in the Tarim River Basin, Xinjiang, China
by Yaqi Cheng, Xuyang Zhang and Wei Song
Land 2024, 13(4), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040561 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1302
Abstract
In recent years, global climate change and human alterations to land use have led to a decrease in ecosystem services, making ecosystems more vulnerable. However, unlike the well-established risk assessment frameworks used in natural disaster research, the concept of ecological risks arising from [...] Read more.
In recent years, global climate change and human alterations to land use have led to a decrease in ecosystem services, making ecosystems more vulnerable. However, unlike the well-established risk assessment frameworks used in natural disaster research, the concept of ecological risks arising from changes in land use is still in its early stages, with its nuances and assessment methodologies yet to be clearly defined. This study proposes a new framework for assessing ecological risks resulting from changes in land use in the Tarim River Basin. The framework employs a coupled PLUS and Invest model to evaluate the ecological risks of land use change under three development scenarios projected for the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang by 2035. The findings indicate that: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, the predominant land use types in the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang were primarily unused land, followed by grassland and cropland. Conversely, grassland, water, and construction land were relatively less prevalent. During this period, the area of unused land and cultivated land increased, while grassland, forest land, and water exhibited a declining trend. Moving forward, under the three scenarios from 2020 to 2035, land use changes in the study area are characterized by the expansion of cropland and unused land, coupled with a significant decrease in grassland area, while other land categories demonstrate minor fluctuations. (2) From 2020 to 2035, across various scenarios, the total ecosystem service within the study area demonstrates an overall increasing trend in both the northern and southern marginal zones. Specifically, under the baseline scenario, the total amount of ecosystem services in the study area decreased by 15.247% compared to 2020. Similarly, under the economic development scenario, this decrease amounted to 13.358% compared to 2020. Conversely, under the ecological protection scenario, the decrease reached 19.852% compared to 2020. (3) The structure of ecological risk levels from 2020 to 2035, across multiple scenarios, demonstrates a consistent pattern, characterized by a predominant proportion of moderate risk. Conversely, other risk levels occupy relatively smaller proportions of the area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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20 pages, 6896 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Drivers of Wind Erosion during 1990–2020 in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, Southern Tibetan Plateau
by Xiaomin Qin, Dongmei Zhao, Baojun Zhang, Donghong Xiong, Zhengrong Yuan, Wenduo Zhang, Lin Liu, Dil Kumar Rai, Sheikh Laraib and Wei Deng
Land 2023, 12(9), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091685 - 28 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1280
Abstract
Wind erosion is recognized as one of the main environmental issues and seriously threatens ecosystem services in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin (YZRB), southern Tibetan Plateau. Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics and drivers of wind erosion is crucial for improving regional ecosystem services and [...] Read more.
Wind erosion is recognized as one of the main environmental issues and seriously threatens ecosystem services in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin (YZRB), southern Tibetan Plateau. Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics and drivers of wind erosion is crucial for improving regional ecosystem services and sustainable development. This study was conducted to examine the spatiotemporal patterns of soil wind erosion modulus (SWEM) in YZRB from 1990 to 2020 by using the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) and to identify the influence of climate change and anthropogenic activities on wind erosion dynamics. The results showed that temporally, the overall SWEM presented a significant downward trend (−0.912 t·hm−2·a−1) and a continuous downward trend in the key implementation areas of ecological engineering. Spatially, the severe area of wind erosion is mainly concentrated in the flat and broad river valley, where sand sources are widely distributed. Significant SWEM differences were found among various land use/cover (LULC) types. Exceeding 90% reduction rates in SWEM occurred in forests, grasslands, and cultivated land. Additionally, the influence analysis showed that climate change was the dominant factor driving the variations in wind erosion due to the reduction of wind speed. By contrast, the contribution of anthropogenic activities is relatively less, accounting for 43.50% of wind erosion change, which closely matches the transfer of LULC to grassland and forest land with the implementation area of ecological engineering projects. This study provides useful information on the driving mechanism of wind erosion, prevention service changes, and determining priority zones for desertification prevention in YZRB. We suggest that eco-restoration activities should be endorsed in the future, as well as the adaptive management that is required to control wind erosion and improve ecosystem services and human well-being for people in the YZRB region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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25 pages, 6722 KiB  
Article
Research on Vegetation Ecological Security in Arid Region Mountain Front River Valleys Based on Ecological Water Consumption and Water Demand
by Xiangshou Dong, Shihang Hu, Quanzhi Yuan, Yaowen Kou, Shujun Li, Wei Deng and Ping Ren
Land 2023, 12(8), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081642 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1356
Abstract
The central region of the Eurasian continent is widely affected by arid conditions, but the valleys in front of the mountains nurture ecosystems consisting of forests, shrubs, and grasslands. Preserving the ecological balance in these arid valley areas is an essential aspect of [...] Read more.
The central region of the Eurasian continent is widely affected by arid conditions, but the valleys in front of the mountains nurture ecosystems consisting of forests, shrubs, and grasslands. Preserving the ecological balance in these arid valley areas is an essential aspect of water resource planning and management. This study utilizes calculations of vegetation’s ecological water consumption and water requirements to quantitatively simulate groundwater levels. These simulated levels are then compared with the threshold depth suitable for vegetation, ultimately leading to the development of an ecological security assessment method for valley areas. The results show the following: (1) During 30 years, the water demand of river valley vegetation increased slowly, and the overall stability is about 4.82 × 108 m3. Among them, the ecological water demand of grassland is the largest. The water demand from June to August is about 68% of the whole year. (2) The results indicate that over a period of 30 years, the groundwater levels in the valley area have shown a gradual decline. The rate of decline in groundwater levels is approximately twice as fast in areas farther away from the river compared to areas closer to the river. The decline in groundwater levels typically begins in May each year. During the period of valley flooding in June, there is a temporary rise in water levels, followed by a continued decline afterwards. (3) The study area has a significant proportion of groundwater suitable areas, accounting for approximately 65% on average annually. Over the course of 30 years, the area experiencing groundwater deficiency has increased from 31% to 37%. (4) Over the past 30 years, the ratio of annual vegetation water consumption to water demand in the river valley has been slowly decreasing, and the vegetation growth status has changed from good growth to normal growth. (5) In the past 30 years, the area of ecological quality areas has decreased significantly, and most of them have been transformed into general areas. The area of ecologically fragile areas is increasing, and the area of fencing protected areas is slowly declining. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Ecological Risk in Mountain Areas)
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