Vegetation Restoration and Its Environmental Effects on the Loess Plateau

Abstract

An analysis of land use/cover change (LUCC) on the Loess Plateau over the past 30 years and its environmental effects was performed to provide scientific guidance for a sustainable development policy for the regional ecological environment and social economy. Geostatistical and trend analyses are used to study the LUCC characteristics, driving forces and environmental effects, and the relationship between LUCC and regional sustainable development is explored. The following results were obtained: (1) Overall, the land use structure has not changed, with grassland, farmland, and forest land remaining dominant; however, the vegetation coverage has significantly increased, especially in the central area.(2) LUCC is affected by climate change and human activities, with greater climate change impacts in the northwest than the southeast and greater among which human-induced impacts on the hilly/gully region in the central part. (3) LUCC will produce long-term ecological and environmental processes, such as surface runoff, soil erosion, soil moisture and carbon cycling. Vegetation restoration has both negative and positive effects on the regional ecological environment. Vegetation productivity on the Loess Plateau has approached the water resource carrying capacity threshold. Therefore, improving artificial vegetation stability and promoting the water resources balance have become the main strategies for promoting sustainable development on the Loess Plateau.

Quantitatively Assessing and Attributing Land Use and Land Cover Changes on China’s Loess Plateau

“…Grassland was the main land cover type, distributed in the Loess Plateau, followed by cropland and woodland. Our statistical results indicated that these three types accounted for more than 85% of the total area, which was consistent with other studies [7,61]. In addition, the trajectory of LULCC in the decade before and after 2000 was different.…”

“…The global land surface cover is undergoing extensive changes in the context of global change, which have profound effects on terrestrial ecosystems [1][2][3][4][5]. Land use and land cover change (LULCC) is a comprehensive reflection of the interaction between the natural environment and human activities [6,7]. Global warming leads to the forest boundaries moving northward [8,9], the shrinking of glaciers and icecaps [10], and the changes of vegetation in coastal beaches [11].…”

Changes in Vegetation Greenness in the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yellow River Basin over 2000–2015

“…Returning farmland on steep slopes (≥ 25 • ) to grassland, shrubland and forestland is a key objective. During 2000-2015, the area of farmland was reduced by 5558 km 2 while the area of forestland and shrubland increased by 2593 km 2 in the Loess Plateau [52]. From the seventh (2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) to eighth (2009-2013) Forest Inventory, the area of newly planted forest increased by 53.7 × 10 4 , 27.74 × 10 4 , and 22.2 × 10 4 hectares in Shannxi, Neimenggu, and Gansu provinces, respectively.…”

Vegetation Change and Driving Factors: Contribution Analysis in the Loess Plateau of China during 2000–2015

“…Since 1999, based on the experience of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in soil and water conservation and management in the Yan'an area, the central government has carried out large-scale ecological restoration and treatment projects, such as "returning farmland to forests and grasslands" (or the "Grain for Green" Program (GGP)) and "closing hillsides for afforestation" in the region [17,18]. After long-term unremitting efforts, the vegetation of the Loess Plateau has been significantly restored, and the regional ecological quality and ecological service functions have been significantly improved [19][20][21][22]. It is generally believed that the abundant light energy resources and thermal resources in the Loess Plateau can fully meet the basic needs of vegetation growth in the region.…”