Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2017, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (1): 7-14.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2017.01.002

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Zoning for Ecological Remediation by Dominant Ecological Function and Ecological Degradation Degree

TIAN Mei-rong1, GAO Ji-xi1, SONG Guo-bao2, ZOU Chang-xin1, ZHENG Hao1   

  1. 1. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210042, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Sciences & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
  • Received:2016-09-27 Online:2017-01-25 Published:2017-01-22

Abstract:

Zoning for eco-remediation is the precondition for scientific and efficient development of ecological restoration. Zoning was performed of Balin Right Banner in Inner Mongolia of China, an important section of the Horqin Steppe and an ecologically sensitive and fragile area as well. In zoning, an approach combining "bottom-up analysis" with "top-down parsing" was adopted and the technology of GIS spatial analysis was applied. Based on the rule of spatial differentiation of dominant ecological functions, zoning was done with ecological degradation degree, meteorological characteristics, terrain, landform and vegetation of the region taken comprehensively into full account. The first level zoning was done in the light of terrain and type of vegetation cover, to form zonal environment dominated ecological type groups; the second level zoning was by dominant ecological function, such as water source reservation, wind breaking and sand fixation, water erosion prevention and biodiversity conservation, to form mid-scaled zonal environment dominated ecological function type group; and the third level zoning was by degradation degree, i. e. non-degraded, slightly-degraded, moderately-degraded and severely-degraded, to form three groups of subzones different in toughness of the remediation, i. e. subzones for preventive eco-remediation, subzones for adjustable eco-remediation and subzones for key eco-remediation. The Balin Right Banner was divided into 3 first-grade zones, 7 second-grade zones and 29 third-grade zones which not only embodied the rule of dominant ecological function differentiation, but also made the remediation pointed and provided technical support to developing zone- or subzone-specific control measures and ecological remediation programs, such as rearrangement of vegetation, adjustment of industrial structure, etc.

Key words: ecological remediation, ecological degradation, zoning, Balin Right Banner

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