Abstract
The construction of an ecological security pattern (ESP) is one of the basic methods to protect regional ecological security and enhance people’s well-being. In the case of Anhui province, located in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, regional ecological sources were assessed and recognized in terms of ecosystem services, and regional ESP was then constructed based on circuit theory. Current density was applied to analyze the significance of patches and corridors and recognize sticking points, and thereby strategies were introduced to optimize regional ESP. Results of ecosystem services function assessment showed that there were 47 ecological patches, 107 ecological corridors, 16 pinch points, and six sticking points in the ESP of Anhui province. The watershed of the Yangtze and Huai rivers divides the ESP of the northern and southern Anhui, which has huge landscape spatial heterogeneity. Areas with relatively good ecological resources were basically located between Dabie Mountain area in the west and the low hilly area in the south of Anhui, with mostly woodland and farmland as ecological sources. However, cities in the northern Anhui, also in the north of the watershed of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, face severe situations in terms of environmental protection. This study conducted spatial analyses on ESP with different thresholds and proposed to classify different ESPs according to ecological control. This helps to alleviate the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection, and improve the supply capacity of regional ecosystem services, in order to satisfy the regional demand for ecosystem services. Meanwhile, this study offers more methods to construct regional ESP and introduces targeted measures to improve connectivity, which is of practical guidance for the connectivity and optimization of ecological patterns.
Highlights
In recent years, the continuous promotion of urbanization has propelled ecosystems to face huge pressures, even leading to ecological disasters
As people have raised a new demand for the well-being provided by ecosystem services, the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection has been gradually intensified
That is to say, looking from the perspective of human beings, it refers to compound situations of ecosystem security where environmental conditions and ecosystem services are capable of protecting our life and health from damage, while at the same time economic development and social security are unfettered and unthreatened [1,2]
Summary
The continuous promotion of urbanization has propelled ecosystems to face huge pressures, even leading to ecological disasters. The ecological security pattern (ESP), as the bridge between ecosystem services and societal development, is currently regarded as a key strategic tool to protect regional ecological security and enhance people’s well-being. The designation of ESP has become an important policy for Chinese governments at all levels to ensure sustainable development of the regional economy, and to coordinate the relationship between ecosystems and economic society. It is regarded as a basic guarantee and important method to realize regional ecological security and is identified as one of the three strategic patterns for national land development and protection. That is to say, looking from the perspective of human beings, it refers to compound situations of ecosystem security where environmental conditions and ecosystem services are capable of protecting our life and health from damage, while at the same time economic development and social security are unfettered and unthreatened [1,2]
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