Abstract
Abstract. As the most severe ecological issue in southwest China, karst rocky desertification (KRD) has both threatened and constrained regional sustainable development. Comprehensively understanding the relationship between the evolution of KRD and relevant driving data would provide more information to combat KRD in such complex karst environments. Past studies have been limited in quantifying the relative importance of driving factors influencing fine-scale KRD evolution, and have also lacked insight into their interactive impacts. To address these issues, we have used geographical information system techniques and a geographical detector model to explore the spatial consistency of driving factors and their interactions in relation to the evolution of KRD. Changshun County in China was selected as a representative area for the study. Nine relevant driving factors, including both natural and anthropogenic factors, were studied in regard to their relationships with KRD transformation between 2000 and 2010. Our results demonstrate the relative importance of driving data in influencing the improvement and deterioration of KRD. Lithology, soil type and road influence are identified as the leading factors. Interestingly, to our study at least, there is no significant difference between the impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors influencing KRD improvement, and even natural factors have a higher impact on KRD deterioration. Factors were found to enhance the influence of each other for KRD transformation. In particular, the results show a non-linearly enhanced effect between driving factors, which significantly aggravates KRD. New information found in our study helps to effectively control and restore areas afflicted by KRD.
Highlights
China has approximately 3.44 × 106 km2 of karst areas, about 36% of its total land, and 15.6 % of all the 22 × 106 km2 karst areas in the world (Jiang et al, 2014)
We calculated the power of determinant (PD) of driving factors, which relate to the spatial consistency of driving factors compared with the E-Karst rocky desertification (KRD) index
The orders of PDs for natural and anthropogenic factors show the variable impact that they have on the spatial distribution of KRD improvement or deterioration
Summary
China has approximately 3.44 × 106 km of karst areas, about 36% of its total land, and 15.6 % of all the 22 × 106 km karst areas in the world (Jiang et al, 2014). The continuously distributed karst region, which is mostly located in eight provinces of southwestern China (Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, and Guangdong) is one of the world’s most extensive and welldeveloped karst landscapes (Wang et al, 2004b; Xu et al, 2013). The mutual transformation (improvement or deterioration) of different types of KRD land has been remarkable (Bai et al, 2013), perhaps because KRD occurs as a result of multiple factors including the inherent natural background and intensive human activities in the complex karst environment (Jiang et al, 2014; Liu et al, 2008b; Wang et al, 2004b; Yang et al, 2011).
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