IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i3p1287-d1584130.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Restoration of Ecological Connectivity in Zhaotong City Under the Interference of Human Activities

Author

Listed:
  • Bo Wen

    (College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Chenxi Liu

    (College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Jingchao Cai

    (China Construction First Group The Fifth Construction Co., Ltd., Beijing 100024, China)

  • Jing Guo

    (China Construction First Group The Fifth Construction Co., Ltd., Beijing 100024, China)

  • Guoping Ren

    (China Construction First Group The Fifth Construction Co., Ltd., Beijing 100024, China)

Abstract

Plateau ecological vulnerability areas are experiencing substantial ecological challenges that threaten the integrity of ecological networks (ENs) due to irrational human activities, leading to habitat fragmentation and ecological connectivity degradation. The objectives of this study focus on understanding the structure, connectivity, and responses of ENs to construction land, crucial for maintaining ecological sustainability. Employing the circuit theory, the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, and complex network analysis methods, the ENs are constructed and the evolution characteristics are analyzed. The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model is used to explore the correlation between construction land and ecological pinch points. The number of ecological corridors increased by 42, and the total length was reduced by 432.85 km, for a reduction of 15.25%. The proportion of highest-level ecological pinch points declined from 0.95% to 0.67%, indicating enhanced overall connectivity. Complex network analysis showed declining betweenness centrality in eight ecological sources over two periods, indicating reduced connectivity in partial northern and central regions. Correlation analysis showed the interaction of regional economic development policies and regional ecological restoration measures on the ecological networks. In areas with positive correlations, six ecological conservation areas were designated to maintain existing connectivity. In regions with negative correlations, seven ecological restoration areas were planned to improve ecological connectivity through scientific ecological restoration methods. This research provides a framework for optimizing regional ecological networks and enhancing ecological connectivity in plateau ecological vulnerability areas. It offers significant insights into the optimization of the ecological security pattern and practical guidance for policymakers and planners seeking to maintain ecological sustainability and resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Wen & Chenxi Liu & Jingchao Cai & Jing Guo & Guoping Ren, 2025. "Restoration of Ecological Connectivity in Zhaotong City Under the Interference of Human Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:1287-:d:1584130
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/1287/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/1287/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiaquan Duan & Yue ‘e Cao & Bo Liu & Yinyin Liang & Jinyu Tu & Jiahui Wang & Yeyang Li, 2023. "Construction of an Ecological Security Pattern in Yangtze River Delta Based on Circuit Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-16, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yuhan Bai & Jiajia Zhao & Hangrui Shen & Xinyao Li & Bo Wen, 2024. "The Evolution of Forest Landscape Connectivity and Ecological Network Construction: A Case Study of Zhejiang’s Ecological Corridors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-24, July.
    2. Dongjie Guan & Qiongyao Chang & Lilei Zhou & Kangwen Zhu & Guochuan Peng, 2024. "Construction and Optimization of Ecological Security Pattern Network Based on the Supply–Demand Ratio of Ecosystem Services: A Study from Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:1287-:d:1584130. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.