Authors : Yong Yu, Mei Li and Ershan Chen
Abstract: Research on land-use and land-cover change with associated effects on the eco-environment is a key to understanding global change. Urbanization is acknowledged as one of the most severe threats against ecosystem health. In this study, ecosystem service values are used to assess the ecological values of corresponding land-use types, so as to evaluate the ecological effects of regional land-use change and urbanization. Tourism-urbanization landscape of Chengdu plain comprises a transitional region in the urban-suburb eco-tone and has unique ecological functions covered with the characteristics of a fluctuant regional eco-environment, instability, complicated adjustment of ecosystem and sensitivity to exterior disturbance and interior elements. Consequently, land-use change and associated ecological effects must be monitored to assure sustainable development of this region. The landscape classification maps of Mt.Qingcheng Region were assessed based on land-use actual plats and actual condition in 1990 and 2003. The patch characteristics of the different land-use types and villages, urbanization expansion area and landscape diversity index were calculated based on models and GIS, thus examining the spatial patterns and dynamics of land-use in the study area. The results show the influences of human activities and natural environment factors. A moderate increase in forest and urban land in the last 13 years has resulted in the decrease of paddy field and dry land, some plow-lands are transformed into the rural resident buildings or urban land. Landscape diversity indices indicate that the proportions of each landscape element tend toward unbalance. The increase of urbanization expansion reveals that the effects of human activities. Ecological value calculations show that land-use change during these years has caused so many negative ecological effects with distinct spatial differences.
Yong Yu, Mei Li and Ershan Chen, 2010. Ecological Effects Associated with Land-Use Change in Urbanization Zone of Chengdu Plain. Environmental Research Journal, 4: 212-221.