%0 Journal Article %A Yu-He JI %A Guang-Sheng ZHOU %A Shu-Dong WANG %A Li-Xia WANG %A Meng-Zi ZHOU %T Evolution characteristics and its driving forces analysis of vegetation ecological quality in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019 %D 2021 %R 10.17521/cjpe.2020.0253 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 617-625 %V 45 %N 6 %X

Aims This study was conducted to illustrate the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation ecological quality change, and to clarify the driving forces of ecological quality change in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019.

Methods The methods of model simulation and satellite observation were used.

Important findings The results showed that (1) Vegetation ecological quality in Qinling Mountains region was significantly improved, and the average increase rates of net primary productivity (NPP) and vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) were 8 g C·m-2·a-1 and 0.005 4·a-1, respectively. Spatially, 85%-95% of the Qinling Mountains region showed a significant improvement in ecosystem quality, but NPP and VFC decreased significantly in some areas such as Xiʼan City. (2) 80%-85% of the Qinling Mountains region showed an increasing trend in precipitation and temperature, which was consistent with the distribution area increasing NPP and VFC. These evidence confirmed that warm and humid climate played an important role in improving vegetation ecological quality. (3) Human protection activities (Natural Forest Protection, Grain for Green Project, etc.) have increased the area of woodland, grassland and water area significantly, and a large range of vegetation ecosystems have been nurtured in the Qinling Mountains region. The expansion of construction land represented by the northern slope of Qinling Mountains was the main reason for the deterioration of vegetation ecological quality. However, human destructive activities were limited to local areas.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0253