To achieve coordinated development of cultivated land use and ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin, our research team published a paper titled “Coordinated development of cultivated land use and ecological protection in cities along the main stream of the Yellow River in Henan Province, China” in “Ecological Indicators” (JCR 1, Top). The main content of the paper is as follows:
The protection and sustainable management of cultivated land are the cornerstones to ensure ecological balance. Implementing cultivated land protection policies with spatially defined land use strategies helps in sustainable utilization of these land resources. However, recent agricultural activities have impacted the water quality of the Yellow River, posing significant challenges to its sustainable development. Many policy considerations overlook the integrity of ecosystems.
Figure 1 Balancing Risk Relationships
To address this issue, for cities along the main stream of the Yellow River in Henan Province, we have constructed an ecological security pattern of "five zones, one belt, multiple corridors, multiple points" to achieve coordinated development of cultivated land use and ecological protection. Ecological source lands were identified using four types of ecosystem services and an orderly weighted averaging method.
Figure 2 Four Types of Ecosystem Services in 2020
Figure 3 Ecological Pinch Points and Obstacle Points
The ecological security pattern was established using the minimum cumulative resistance model and circuit theory, while the FLUS model was used to simulate scenarios of cultivated land protection and natural development. The results show that the ecological security pattern under cultivated land protection scenarios is beneficial to the ecological environment. Before implementing cultivated land protection policies, development within priority ecological protection areas should be restricted. Additionally, cultivated lands located in key ecological corridors and pinch points should be prohibited from being converted to other land use types while improving soil quality, and cultivated lands within ecological obstacle points should be further converted to green spaces. This study provides a theoretical basis for the government on how to implement cultivated land protection policies while promoting ecological protection, and is also of reference value to other areas along the riversides.
Figure 4 Ecological Security Pattern
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111143
Author information:
Huai Bin Wei (First author) is the associate dean of the School of Management and Economics at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power. His research focuses on watershed planning and management.
Yao Wang (Second author) is a 2021-level master's student in the School of Water Conservancy at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, specializing in water environment and ecology.
Jing Liu (the corresponding author) is the director of the Water Environment Research Institute in the College of Water Resources at North China University of WaterResources and Electric Power, with research interests in water environment and ecology.
