Evaluation of ecological conservation red line from the perspective of ecological security pattern: Taking Zhejiang Province, China as an example

Abstract

To investigate the scientificity of the ecological conservation red line in Zhejiang Province, we evaluated the ecological effect based on the concept of ecosystem processes from the perspective of ecological security pattern. On the basis of clarifying the triple connotation of the ecological conservation red line, we constructed an evaluation index system to identify ecological sources and evaluate the importance of red line patches with InVEST model and net primary productivity quantitative analysis. Minimum resistance model and gravity model were used to construct the ecological corridors and evaluate the connectivity of red line. Moreover, landscape pattern index and overlay analysis were applied to evaluate the fragmentation and coordination of red line. The results showed that, from the perspective of ecological importance, the protection scale in Zhejiang Province was relatively large, but 13.5% of the red line areas were not of high importance. About 40% of the provincial ecological sources were not included in the ecological conservation red line. From the perspective of spatial structure, the connectivity of the ecological conservation red line was insufficient. The protection rate of the first-level ecological corridor was less than 15%. The red line patches in some counties and cities were relatively broken. From the perspective of natural-social system coordination, cross-administrative red line areas were well connected. However, it was still necessary to pay attention to the fact that the conflict between supply and demand in the plain area had led to spatial mismatch and fragmentation of red line. Using the ecological security pattern for reference, we put forward the relevant strategies of red line optimization and adjustment, which could provide scientific reference for ecological space management.