Spatiotemporal Variation in Land Use of Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park

Abstract

This paper attempts to disclose the law of land use variation in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP), and provide theoretical basis for eco-environment protection of the national park in future. The data on land use variation in four phases (i.e., 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2018) were selected for analysis based on the geographical information system (GIS). The variation and transfer features of land use were quantified, with the aid of single land use dynamic degree, comprehensive land use dynamic degree, and land use transfer matrix. The results show that: (1) In 1995-2008, the main land types in the NCTLNP were forest, grassland, and cultivated land, which took up more than 90% of the total area; the grassland area increased, while the areas of cultivated land and forest declined; forest was the land use with the largest transfer-out area (523.59 km2), about 55.29% of the total transfer-out area in the study area; (2) In the sample period, NCTLNP witnessed significant transfers between land uses; the transfers mostly occurred between forest, grassland, and cultivated land; forest transfers were observed in every county and city; the transfer of forest to grassland mainly concentrated in Dongning City. The research results lay the basis for building up a stereo eco-environment monitoring network in the study area, and provide the research direction for eco-environment protection in the NCTLNP.