Liu Li, Wang Wen J, Wang Lei, Cong Yu, Wu Haitao
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun China.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Mar 27;15(4):e71123. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71123. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Human-driven land use changes significantly contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation in temperate forests, prompting the implementation of ecological conservation programs. However, these efforts may be undermined by the competing demands of ecological conservation and economic development. This study assessed changes in temperate forest habitat quality and the relative contribution of competing land use decisions (ecological programs, cropland expansion, and urbanization) to these changes in the Changbai Mountain region, Northeast China from 1990 to 2050. Our results revealed a region-wide decline (-20.77%) in habitat quality over the past 30 years, with projected improvements (+14.64%) under the future scenario, albeit with considerable regional variations. Ecological programs contributed to long-term habitat improvements by preserving and expanding forest cover. However, cropland expansion and urbanization through forest conversion were identified as the primary drivers of habitat quality degradation, leading to both direct habitat loss and indirect negative effects on the quality of the remaining habitat. Our findings offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of ecological programs and the trade-offs posed by economic pressures, highlighting the need for integrated land use strategies that balance ecological and socio-economic objectives in temperate forest management.
人为驱动的土地利用变化显著导致了温带森林的栖息地丧失和破碎化，促使生态保护计划的实施。然而，这些努力可能会受到生态保护和经济发展相互竞争需求的破坏。本研究评估了1990年至2050年中国东北长白山地区温带森林栖息地质量的变化，以及相互竞争的土地利用决策（生态计划、农田扩张和城市化）对这些变化的相对贡献。我们的结果显示，在过去30年里，栖息地质量出现了全区范围的下降（-20.77%），尽管存在相当大的区域差异，但在未来情景下预计会有所改善（+14.64%）。生态计划通过保护和扩大森林覆盖面积，对长期栖息地改善做出了贡献。然而，通过森林转化进行的农田扩张和城市化被确定为栖息地质量退化的主要驱动因素，导致了直接的栖息地丧失以及对剩余栖息地质量的间接负面影响。我们的研究结果为生态计划的有效性以及经济压力带来的权衡提供了宝贵的见解，强调了在温带森林管理中需要平衡生态和社会经济目标的综合土地利用策略。
