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NDVI-derived forest area change and its driving factors in China

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  • Lizhuang Liang
  • Feng Chen
  • Lei Shi
  • Shukui Niu

Abstract

China harbors diversified forest types, from tropical rainforest to boreal coniferous forest, and has implemented large-scale reforestation/afforestation programs over the past several decades. However, little information is available on changes in China’s forest area and the causes. In this study, we used the classified forest distribution thematic map derived from Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) datasets and a revised IPAT model to examine China’s forest area change and the possible driving factors from 1982 to 2006. Overall, NDVI-derived forest areas were numerically consistent with those reported in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th National Forest Inventories, respectively. Over the past 25 years, China’s forest area was estimated to have an average of 169.18 million hectares with an annual increase of 0.15 million hectares (c.a. a total net increment of 3.60 million hectares), which is equivalent to 0.089% of the relative annual change rate. However, a large difference in the changing rate and direction of forest area at the province level was found; for instance, forest area has declined in 10 provinces, mainly in Northeastern and Southern China, while 21 provinces showed an increase. The changes were most likely attributed to the policy regarding the import and export of timber and affluence (per capita gross domestic product), and both contributed more than 80% of the total contribution of the six factors of the revised IPAT model.

Suggested Citation

  • Lizhuang Liang & Feng Chen & Lei Shi & Shukui Niu, 2018. "NDVI-derived forest area change and its driving factors in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0205885
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205885
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marian R. Chertow, 2000. "The IPAT Equation and Its Variants," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 4(4), pages 13-29, October.
    2. York, Richard & Rosa, Eugene A. & Dietz, Thomas, 2003. "STIRPAT, IPAT and ImPACT: analytic tools for unpacking the driving forces of environmental impacts," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 351-365, October.
    3. Culas, Richard J., 2007. "Deforestation and the environmental Kuznets curve: An institutional perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2-3), pages 429-437, March.
    4. Wang, Sen & Cornelis van Kooten, G. & Wilson, Bill, 2004. "Mosaic of reform: forest policy in post-1978 China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 71-83, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu Shi & Rui Han & Luo Guo, 2020. "Temporal–Spatial Distribution of Ecosystem Health and Its Response to Human Interference Based on Different Terrain Gradients: A Case Study in Gannan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, February.

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