Bingqiang Fei

The terrestrial spatial patterns were affected by human activities, primarily on regional land use (LU) changes, with habitat quality (HQ) serving as a prerequisite for achieving regional sustainable development. Assessing and predicting the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of regional LU changes and HQ is critical for formulating regional LU strategies and enhancing ecosystem service functions. Using the Poyang Lake Region as our research object, this research employs LU data and utilizes the ‘InVEST’ model and hot-spot analysis to quantitatively evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in HQ during 2000–2020. The PLUS model is then applied to predict LU and HQ trends from 2020 to 2050. The findings are as follows: (1). From 2000 to 2020, the areas of forestland, shrubland, sparse woodland, paddy fields, and dryland in the Poyang Lake Region showed a decreasing trend, with reductions mainly occurring in urban expansion zones such as Nanchang City and largely converted into urban construction land. (2). Since 2000, HQ in the Poyang Lake Region has shown a slight retrogressive evolution, with significant spatial heterogeneity. HQ spatially exhibits a pattern of improvement radiating outward from major cities. (3). Predictions for 2030 to 2050 indicate that HQ in the Poyang Lake Region will continue to decline, with the most significant downward trends occurring in urban built-up areas and their peripheries. The spatiotemporal characteristics reveal an expansion ring around Poyang Lake and an east–west urban expansion corridor linking Pingxiang, Yichun, Xinyu, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Yingtan, and Shangrao. This study provided a research basis for LU direction and urban planning policies in the Poyang Lake Region and its surrounding areas, while also contributing to the construction of agrarian security patterns and the enhancement of ecosystem service levels in the region.

This study meticulously investigates landscape alterations within the Mu Us Sandy Land, a critical region for desertification control in China. The research dissects the dynamic characteristics and inter-conversion of landscape elements across eleven distinct periods by employing multi-source remote sensing imagery spanning 1963 to 2020, alongside visual interpretation, random forest classification, and the desertification difference index (DDI). The analysis uncovers significant landscape transformations within the Mu Us Sandy Land over the past six decades, following a precise chronological sequence. A pivotal shift occurred around 1986, characterized by opposing trends within fixed and shifting sandy land. The earlier stage (pre-1986) witnessed a substantial decrease (66.9%) in the fixed sandy land area, accompanied by a corresponding rise (38.7%) in shifting sandy land. Conversely, the later stage (post-1986) era exhibited a remarkable increase (309.7%) in fixed sandy land, alongside a significant decline (78.9%) in shifting sand land coverage. This study identifies two stages of landscape transformation: a pre-1986 phase dominated by the conversion of fixed sandy land to semi-fixed sandy land and a post-1986 reversal toward shifting sand land into fixed sandy land. These sequential transformations have shaped the landscape pattern alterations observed in the Mu Us Sandy Land since 1963. The dramatic landscape improvements observed after 1986 can be primarily attributed to the implementation and continued investment in large-scale ecological restoration projects. This study’s findings, which reveal the intricate landscape dynamics and their implications for ecosystem management, provide a scientific foundation for refining and formulating comprehensive strategies to control desertification and manage the Mu Us Sandy Land’s unique ecosystem.