Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Factors Influencing Ecological Land in Northwest Yunnan from the Perspective of Leading the Construction of a National Ecological Civilization

Abstract

Yunnan Province has emerged as a trailblazer in fostering an ecological civilization, assuming a prominent and pioneering role as the vanguard of ecological conservation in the southwestern region of China. Within the expansive tapestry of Yunnan Province, the northwest region has assumed a pivotal and indispensable position in spearheading the advancement of ecological civilization. To unravel the intricate and complex dynamics at play, this investigation employed a comprehensive array of methodologies, encompassing the sophisticated land use transfer matrix, the dynamic degree of land use, the center-of-gravity migration model, and the standard deviation ellipse. These sophisticated approaches were employed to delve deeply into the nuanced characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of ecologically pristine land in northwest Yunnan, while meticulously exploring the multifaceted factors that have intricately shaped its trajectory. The research findings illuminated several pivotal domains: (1) In terms of quantitative transformations, a substantial conversion of vast grassland expanses into cultivated land transpired from 2000 to 2010, spanning an expansive territory of 1303 km2. The most significant transformations were observed between forested land and grassland (591.81 km2) and from cropland to built-up land (51.99 km2). (2) Turning our attention to the pace of transformation, a closer examination of the land use dynamic degree revealed that urban construction land exhibited the highest degree of dynamism throughout the study period, demonstrating an average annual growth rate of 3.89% from 2000 to 2010, followed by a more accelerated growth rate of 6.14% from 2010 to 2020. In terms of the comprehensive land use dynamic degree, the annual rates of land use change from 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020 were only 0.1% and 0.03%, respectively. These figures indicate a gradual and deliberate overall pace of land use change in the northwest region of Yunnan throughout the entire study period. (3) Regarding spatial transformations, between 2000 and 2010, there was a discernible southeastern displacement of the center of gravity for ecological land. However, from 2010 to 2020, the center of ecological land experienced a migration towards the northwest, covering an impressive migration distance of up to 48,657.35 m. Simultaneously, the index of biological abundance exhibited high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast, indicative of favorable ecological conditions in the northwest region. (4) An analysis of the influencing factors revealed that the adaptive and dynamic nature of social and economic factors played a pivotal role in shaping the alterations observed in the ecological landscape. The study of ecological land use in northwest Yunnan holds the potential to provide valuable support for the protection and sustainable utilization of regional ecological land use, thereby contributing to the consolidation of the ecological security barrier in southwestern Yunnan and the preservation of biodiversity.