Vegetation Change and Conservation Evaluation of the Cangshan Erhai National Nature Reserve (Cangshan Mountain Part) in Southwest China

Abstract

Vegetation and its spatiotemporal variations play a crucial role in regional ecological security and sustainable development. Examining vegetation dynamics in natural reserves provides valuable insights for optimizing vegetation patterns and management strategies. This study utilizes Landsat remote sensing imagery to investigate changes in vegetation pattern and coverage in the Cangshan mountain of the Cangshan Erhai National Nature Reserve, as well as assesses the effectiveness of conservation efforts. The results indicate the following: (1) The primary vegetation types in the Cangshan mountain include warm-temperate coniferous forests, deciduous broad-leaved forests, bamboo forests, and alpine meadows, exhibiting distinct vertical zonation patterns. The vegetated area expanded by 1146 hectares during the study period. (2) The average fractional of vegetation coverage (FVC) in the Cangshan mountain demonstrated an upward trend (0.82 in 1987 to 0.93 in 2017), with the proportion of highly FVC areas increasing from 59.67% in 1987 to 97.89% in 2017. (3) The vegetation landscape fragmentation in Cangshan mountain and various functional areas shows an increasing trend, while connectivity decreases, and is accompanied by a more intricate shape of the vegetation landscape. While conservation and management efforts have yielded certain results in safeguarding the vegetation in the Cangshan mountain, the degree of vegetation landscape fragmentation has intensified due to climate change and human activities. Thus, it is imperative for management authorities to promptly adjust protective measures within the Cangshan mountain. This study contributes to our understanding of vegetation changes within the Cangshan mountain and provides essential baseline information for optimizing and enhancing vegetation conservation management strategies within the reserve.