Integrating landscape ecological risk and ecosystem services for ecological zoning and management in the Wuling Mountain Area
Yanfang Wang, Heng Liu
Abstract
• Integrated LER and ES to guide ecological zoning in the WMA. • Applied GTWR to capture spatiotemporal LER–ES relationships. • Identified four ecological zones with tailored management strategies. • Quantified 20-year changes in risk and service provision. • Provided policy guidance for sustainable mountain ecosystem management. The Wuling Mountain Area (WMA) of China is an ecologically significant yet environmentally fragile region facing mounting pressures from rapid land use and cover change (LUCC), urban expansion, and associated increases in landscape ecological risk (LER). Understanding how LER interacts with ecosystem services (ES) is essential for guiding sustainable land management and ecological conservation in this biodiversity-rich mountainous area. This study aimed to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of LER and ES from 2000 to 2020, investigate their interrelationships, and delineate ecological zones to inform targeted management strategies. Multi-source spatial datasets were integrated with the InVEST model to assess habitat quality (HQ), soil conservation (SC), and water yield (WY), while a modified ecosystem service life index (MESLI) measured overall ES capacity. Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) was applied to capture non-stationary spatial and temporal effects of LER on ES, and quadrant analysis was used for ecological zoning. Results showed that (1) LER generally declined over the past two decades, with substantial reductions in karst rocky desertification areas but localized increases in peri -urban zones; (2) HQ remained high, SC improved due to vegetation recovery and soil conservation measures, and WY varied with precipitation patterns; (3) LER had a strong negative correlation with HQ and SC, but a weak, spatially heterogeneous association with WY; and (4) ecological zoning revealed distinct management priorities, with the Ecological Conservation Zone expanding, the Ecological Reshaping Zone contracting, and high-risk zones requiring targeted interventions. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for region-specific ecological management, calling for cross-provincial coordination, strict control of human disturbance in vulnerable zones, and the integration of ecological restoration with sustainable development policies.