The influence of land use change on the spatial–temporal variability of habitat quality between 1990 and 2010 in Northeast China

Land use changes are a direct consequence of interactions between humans and nature.Analysing the spatial and temporal changes in habitat quality brought about by land use change can provide a scientific basis for ecological protection and land planning.Based on the analysis of land use change from 1990 to 2010 in Northeast China,we used the InVEST(integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs)module to evaluate habitat quality based on watershed subdivision.The results show that:(1)the main land use changes from 1990 to 2010 were the transition from grasslands and forest lands to agricultural lands,which led to a decrease in connectivity of landscape and an increase in fragmentation;(2)areas of high habitat quality were distributed north of the Greater Khingan Mountains,the region of the Lesser Khingan Mountains and east of the Changbai Mountains,while the central plain had low habitat quality;(3)agricultural lands had the largest effect on habitat degradation among all habitat threats.During these 2 decades,the contribution of agricultural lands to habitat degradation were 43.4%in 1990,44.6%in 2000 and 43.9%in 2010;and,(4)at a landscape scale,patch density and splitting index present noticeable negative correlations with habitat quality index.Habitat quality was significantly affected by landscape fragmentation and decreased connectivity.

Effects of management regimes on carbon sequestration under the Natural Forest Protection Program in northeast China

Carbon sinks constitute an important element within the complex phenomenon of global climate change,and forest ecosystems are important global carbon sinks.The Natural Forest Protection Program（NFPP） is an ecological program in China that was established after catastrophic flooding in the country in 1998.The goals of the NFPP are to curb the deterioration of the ecological environment,strengthen the protection and restoration of habitat to increase biodiversity,and rehabilitate natural forests to support sustainable development in forest regions.This study looked at changes in carbon sequestration in a forested area of northeast China after the inception of the NFPP.The program divides China＇s natural forests into three classes—commercial and two types of noneconomic forests—that are subject to management regimes prescribing varying levels of timber harvest,afforestation,and reforestation.During the 18-year period from 1998 to 2015,the total amount of carbon sequestration increased at an average annual rate of 0.04 MT C.This trend reflects a transformation of forest management practices after implementation of the NFPP that resulted in prohibited and/or restricted logging and tighter regulation of allowable harvest levels for specific areas.In documenting this trend,guidelines for more effective implementation of forestry programs such as the NFPP in other countries in the future are also suggested.

Segmentation by domestic visitor motivation: Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China

Protected areas have become important tourism products that promoted as attractions by the tourism industry. Taking the Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve in Northeast China as a case, this study addresses visitor needs as a basis for developing a tourism strategy aimed at enhancing tourist opportunities at this reserve. A factor-cluster approach was employed to identify visitor segment profiles based on their visit motivations. Through random sampling, a pencil-and-paper questionnaire in Chinese language was collected from 637 domestic tourists in the study area. A principal components analysis of motivations revealed eight motivational factors, and four distinct groups of tourists – Nature travelers, Cultural landscape tourists, Food & shopping enthusiasts, and Eclectic adventurers – were identified. Understanding the differences in these visitor segments will help the management authority effectively analyze nature reserve attributes and provide alternative activities and services to tourists. Finally, within the dual framework of market segmentation and destination management some management recommendations and marketing implications are suggested.