Spatio-temporal analysis of the human footprint in the Hengduan Mountain region: Assessing the effectiveness of nature reserves in reducing human impacts

doi:10.1007/s11442-020-1774-z

Abstract

Abstract:

Mapping the human footprint (HF) makes it possible to quantify human influence, which has had an unprecedented impact on the global ecosystem. Using five categories of human pressure data, this study mapped the HF of the Hengduan Mountain region and assessed the effectiveness of nature reserves in reducing human impacts. The results showed that the HF of the Hengduan Mountain region was generally higher in the south and lower in the north. The HF increased by 11.24% over the past 25 years, with faster growth in the southeast. The HF growth rate in nature reserves was much lower than that across the region, which indicated that nature reserves played an important role in reducing the impact of human pressure. A study of Baimaxueshan nature reserve found that establishing nature reserves could effectively reduce the impact of human activities, and no “leakage” occurred. Population growth was an important reason for the increased HF in nature reserves. The development of ecotourism in nature reserves must be based on ecological protection. Strengthening the long-term monitoring, evaluation, and management of nature reserves is a basic requirement for their long-term development.

Key words: human influence, human footprint, nature reserves, effectiveness

YIN Le, DAI Erfu, ZHENG Du, WANG Yahui, MA Liang, TONG Miao. Spatio-temporal analysis of the human footprint in the Hengduan Mountain region: Assessing the effectiveness of nature reserves in reducing human impacts[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(7): 1140-1154.

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Dataset type	Dataset name	Dataset format	Resolution	Timing	Year	Source
Land transformation	Land use	shp/tif	1 km	Dynamic	1990/2000/2010/2015	Data Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (RESDC) (http://www.resdc.cn)
Population density	Population density	tif	1 km	Dynamic	1990/2000/2010/2015	Data Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (http://www.resdc.cn)
Grazing density	Number of cattle and sheep	xls	-	Dynamic	1990/2000/2010/2015	Statistical Yearbook (http://data.cnki.net/yearbook)
Human access	Roads and railways	shp	1 km	Dynamic	2000/2009/2016	Geographic Data Sharing Infrastructure, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University (http://geodata.pku.edu.cn)
Electrical power infrastructure	Nighttime lights	tif	1 km	Dynamic	1992/2000/2010/2013	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (https://ngdc.noaa.gov/eog/download.html)

Type	0-1 km	1-4 km	4-7 km	7-10 km	10-15 km
Expressway	10	8	6	4	2
National-level highway	10	8	5	3	1
Provincial-level highway	8	6	4	2	0
County-level highway	6	4	2	1	0
Rural-level highway	4	2	1	0	0
Railway	10	9	7	5	2

Code	Name	Area (km²)	HF		Code	Name	Area (km²)	HF
Code	Name	Area (km²)	1990	2015	Code	Name	Area (km²)	1990	2015
1	Baimaxueshan	2795.68	5.88	6.23	14	Yading	1463.78	6.66	7.02
2	Cangshanerhai	819.32	10.50	14.06	15	Mangkang Yunnan Golden Monkey	1891.43	9.42	11.04
3	Gaoligongshan	3243.30	3.31	3.91	16	Ailaoshan	174.85	11.21	12.49
4	Sanjiangyuan	2029.31	10.51	10.54	17	Wuliangshan	77.94	10.81	12.94
5	Chaqingsongduo	1428.81	6.22	5.32	18	Yaoshan	203.83	13.57	14.67
6	Fengtongzhai	308.74	8.65	8.67	19	Gexigou	516.57	10.08	10.07
7	Gonggashan	4040.64	4.23	4.15	20	Heizhugou	290.76	8.01	6.22
8	Haizishan	4575.20	7.24	5.75	21	Jiaozishan	161.87	6.48	8.15
9	Jiuzhaigou	652.46	4.07	4.07	22	Yunlongtianchi	141.88	7.61	9.68
10	Meigu Dafengding	495.59	10.15	12.78	23	Huize Black-necked Crane	131.89	15.44	23.35
11	Panzhihua Cycad	13.99	17.64	28.21	24	Liziping	477.60	8.11	9.46
12	Siguniangshan	569.53	7.15	7.28	All nature reserves		28988.52	6.75	6.87
13	Wolong	2075.28	6.46	5.87	Hengduan Mountain region		450000.00	10.59	11.78