Changyin Huang

Cultural diversity holds an irreplaceable ecological value in biodiversity conservation. Jingxi is a county-level city in Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In Jingxi, where the Zhuang ethnic group accounts for 99.4% of the population, a symbiotic relationship has developed between its unique ethnic culture and ecological environment. According to the 2017 census of old trees (OTs) in Jingxi, a total of 1361 OTs were recorded, of which 63.3% (865 trees) were concentrated in human settlements, including village entrances or exits, and cultivated lands, demonstrating significant spatial differentiation. This distinctive distribution pattern raises two core research questions: (1) What are the spatial distribution patterns of OTs within human settlements? (2) Do cultural factors play a significant role in OTs conservation? Therefore, an ethnobotanical study of OTs in Jingxi is necessary. The objectives of this study are to: (1) conduct a comprehensive ethnobotanical investigation of the OTs among the Zhuang people in the region; (2) summarize the environmental spaces of OTs based on their geographical locations; (3) analyze the symbolic cultural meaning associated with OTs across different environmental spaces. This study also aims to reveal conservation strategies for OTs from a cultural perspective and to integrate cultural values into biodiversity conservation, thereby providing significant insights into the mechanisms underlying cultural–ecological synergy.

This study focuses on the ecological security of the Guangxi–Vietnam karst border region, introducing an innovative framework that integrates traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with modern GIS-based ecological modeling to promote sustainable development. Using remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and ecological sensitivity assessments, this research identifies key ecological sources, corridors, pinch points, and barriers. Unlike conventional approaches that rely solely on biophysical indicators, this study incorporates TEK-derived ecological practices into ecological network optimization, ensuring that conservation strategies align with local knowledge and cultural sustainability. Ecological sensitivity was evaluated through indicators such as soil erosion, rocky desertification, and geological disaster risks to guide the optimization of ecological networks. TEK practices, including afforestation, rotational farming, and biodiversity conservation, were systematically integrated into the construction of an innovative “three axes, two belts, and six zones” ecological security pattern. The results revealed 55 ecological corridors, 80 ecological pinch points, and 14 ecological barriers, primarily located in areas with high human activity intensity. This study advances ecological security planning by demonstrating a replicable model for TEK-based conservation in transboundary karst landscapes. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern ecological methodologies, it enhances biodiversity conservation, ecosystem connectivity, and resilience. The proposed framework provides actionable insights for sustainable urban–rural coordination and ecological restoration in karst landscapes, contributing to the long-term sustainability of ecologically vulnerable and culturally diverse regions.