Abstract
Objective The present study is to analyze the vegetation changes in areas with severe soil erosion on the Loess Plateau since the implementation of forestry ecological projects such as the Three-north (northwest, north and northeast) Shelterbelts and Conversion of Farmland to Forests, so as to provide basis for formulating reasonable ecological restoration and management countermeasures. Method Taking Ansai District of Yan’an City in Shaanxi Province as an example, the vegetation coverage in 2000 and 2017 was estimated by pixel dichotomy based on Landsat TM/OLI image, and topographic differentiation characteristics were analyzed in combination with altitude, slope and slope direction. Result (1)Vegetation coverage significantly increased from 24.98% in 2000 to 53.34% in 2017. (2)The proportion of vegetation coverage with extremely significant increase in the study area accounted for 44.70%, which was concentrated along rivers. (3)In 2000, the vegetation coverage gradually decreased with the increase of altitude. In 2017, the vegetation coverage increased first and then decreased with the increase of altitude. In 2000 and 2017, the vegetation coverage increased first and then decreased as the slope increased, and reached its maximum value at the slope of 25°−35°. The order of vegetation coverage from large to small with the change of slope direction was shady slope, semi shady slope, semi sunny slope, and sunny slope. (4)When the altitude was less than 1 300 m and the slope was 15°−35°, flat land, shady and semi shady slopes had good water and heat conditions, with easy vegetation recovery and the largest proportion of high vegetation coverage area. Conclusion The vegetation in Ansai District showed a trend of improvement from 2000 to 2017, with differences under terrain conditions such as altitude, slope, and slope aspects. Ecological restoration countermeasures should be formulated based on local conditions. [Ch, 2 fig. 6 tab. 27 ref.]
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