Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2017, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (11): 1042-1048.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2017.11.012

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Evaluation Method of Regional Biodiversity Based on Forest Inventory Data:A Case Study of Beijing

LIU Chun-lan, CHEN Long, QIAO Qing, MA Ming-rui, PEI Sha, WANG Hai-hua, NING Yang-cui, ZHANG Ji-ping   

  1. Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection/National Urban Environmental Pollution Control Engineering Research Center, Beijing 100037, China
  • Received:2017-02-17 Online:2017-11-25 Published:2017-11-24

Abstract:

With the increasing impact of human activities and the rapid loss of biodiversity, how to prevent the continued decline in biodiversity has become a serious challenge we are facing in sustainable development. Thus, there is an urgent need for accurate and efficient assessment of regional biodiversity in practical work. Based on the forest inventory data, we designed a set of indicating system which had been used to evaluate the regional biodiversity of Beijing City. We manually identified eight biodiversity hotspots consisted of forest sublots by utilizing the established biodiversity evaluation results and high-resolution remote sensing images. The evaluation complied with the principle of consecutiveness and comprehensiveness. All hot spots were located in the northern and western mountain areas of Beijing, with a total area of about 3 791 km2, taking account for 23% of Beijing's land area approximately. The results well reflected the biodiversity status of Beijing city. These hotspots areas identified which covered the existing nature reserves are consistent with the findings of field surveys. Meanwhile, we also identified the potential distribution of the protection gap areas and ecological corridors by using existing protected areas and remote sensing images. The system is simple and stable and requires very little professional backgrounds and data. It could be used as a reference for assessments of biodiversity at the regional level, especially useful for those lacking biodiversity expertise and field survey data. Therefore, the system is significantly practical in biodiversity conservation work. At the same time, the demarcation method solved the problem of operation planning difficulties by using boundaries of forest sublots. It also provided the theory evidences which could help and support government decisions.

Key words: biodiversity, hotspot, gap area, indicator system, ecological corridor

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