Assessing the implementation effectiveness of ecological protection policy based on element-pattern-function dimensions: A case of Changzhutan ecological green heart, China

A scientific and rational assessment of the efficacy of ecological protection policy is crucial for guiding future policy continuation or adjustments. Governments frequently prioritize policy formulation while often disregarding scientific evaluations of implementation outcomes, existing research predominantly assesses based on isolated aspects like ecosystem service functions and values, neglecting comprehensive changes in ecological elements and patterns. This study develops an assessment framework for “land use change, landscape pattern change, ecosystem service function change, and ecological protection effectiveness change.” It does a spatiotemporal comparison analysis to assess the success of the Changzhutan ecological green heart Protection Policy on its tenth anniversary, focusing on three dimensions: elements, patterns, and functions. (1) Element: policy has effectively slowed down the expansion rate of construction land in the study area, reducing the annual growth rate from 1.5 % to 0.8 %, while also slowing the rate of forestland and cropland loss, decreasing the speed of ecological degradation by 62.7 %. (2) Pattern: policy has effectively alleviated the fragmentation trend of cropland and forestland in the study area and the degradation rate of its core habitats, reducing the risk of complexification at the edges of construction land. It has also improved overall landscape connectivity and agglomeration. (3) Function: Policy has significantly improved the overall ecosystem service function in the study area, reducing the average annual decline in carbon storage from 4.0 % to 0.6 %, enhancing soil conservation capacity, and elevating habitat quality. The study's conclusions can offer scientific validation for enhancing and optimizing the efficacy of ecological protection policies.