Spatial-temporal Variability Characteristics and Its Driving Factors of Land Use in Zoige Plateau on the Eastern Edge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

The spatio-temporal change in land use is an essential factor driving global environmental change, which directly affect the structure and function of the ecosystem. However, the impact of ecological restoration projects on the spatio-temporal change characteristics of different land-use types remains unclear. The spatio-temporal variability characteristics of land-use change and the driving factors on the Zoige Plateau during 2000-2010 and 2010-2015 were systematically analyzed by using image data from the years 2000, 2010, and 2015. The results show that the land-use changes of 289.90 km² from 2000 to 2015 were mainly attributed to the increase in grassland and built-up land area by 37.29 and 105.27 km², respectively. Furthermore, wetland area decreased by 129.57 km² over the fifteen years. Simultaneously, the social economy development and the population growth contributed to the significant increase of the built-up land compared to the transition of other land-use types. Ecological restoration projects promoted the restoration of wetlands and decreased cropland, leading to relative stability of shrubland and forestland. In addition, ecological restoration projects were critical factors involved in the increase of wetland area in Zoige Plateau. Desertification control projects is one of the factors that slowed down the expansion of sandy land area in Ruoergai and Hongyuan counties, and climate change was a secondary factor driving land-use change in this region. Strengthening the understanding of spatio-temporal changes in land use and the influencing factors can provide a theoretical basis for optimal regional land-use management and policy making.