Coastal Land-Use and Land-Cover Change Trajectories: Are They Sustainable?

In this study, past and current land-use and land-cover (LULC) change trajectories between 1947 and 2018 were analysed in terms of sustainability using a unique set of nine detailed, high-precision LULC thematic maps for the municipality of Portimão (Algarve region), Portugal. Several Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis techniques were used to process LULC data and assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC change processes. The dynamics of LULC change were explored by analysing LULC change trajectories. In addition, spatial pattern metrics were introduced to further investigate and quantify the spatial patterns of such LULC change trajectories. The findings show that Portimão has been experiencing complex LULC changes. Nearly 52% of the study area has undergone an LULC change at least once during the 71-year period. The analysis of spatial pattern metrics on LULC change trajectories confirmed the emergence of more complex, dispersed, and fragmented shapes when patches of land were converted from non-built categories into artificial surface categories from 1947 to 2018. The combined analysis of long-term LULC sequences by means of LULC change trajectories and spatial pattern metrics provided useful, actionable, and robust empirical information that can support sustainable spatial planning and smart growth, which is much needed since the results of this study have shown that the pattern of LULC change trajectories in Portimão municipality has been heading towards unsustainability.

Impacts of Landscape Patterns on Ecosystem Services Value: A Multiscale Buffer Gradient Analysis Approach

In recent decades, substantial changes have occurred in the spatial structure and form of landscapes in metropolises; these have greatly impacted ecosystem provision capacities. Clarifying the impact mechanism of landscape patterns on ecosystem services can provide insights into regional ecological conservation and sustainable development measures. Although previous studies have explored the impacts of landscape patterns on ecosystem services at multiple scales, few studies have been conducted using the buffer gradient analysis approach. Using land-use/cover change data, this study measured the evolution of spatiotemporal features of landscape patterns and ecosystem services value (ESV) with 1, 2, and 3 km buffer-zone scales in Wuhan, China. Econometric models were then used to analyze the impacts of landscape patterns on ecosystem services at different buffer-zone scales. The results demonstrated that rapid urbanization in Wuhan has led to significant changes in landscape patterns, and the landscape pattern metrics exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. The ESV in Wuhan exhibited a steady decline during the study period. Hydrological regulations and waste treatment functions contributed to the largest proportion of ESV, and raw material production functions contributed to the lowest proportion. Landscape pattern metrics exerted a significant influence on ESV; however, this influence varied greatly. The results of this study provide a new understanding of the influence mechanism of landscape patterns on ecosystem services at 1, 2, and 3 km buffer-zone scales. These findings are critical for facilitating landscape planning and regional sustainable development.

Identifying the Impact of Landscape Pattern on Ecosystem Services in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomerations, China

Clarifying the impact mechanisms of landscape patterns on ecosystem services is highly important for effective ecosystem protection, policymaking, and landscape planning. However, previous literature lacks knowledge about the impact mechanisms of landscape patterns on ecosystem services from a spatial perspective. Thus, this study measured landscape patterns and the ecosystem services value (ESV) using a series of landscape pattern metrics and an improved benefit transfer method based on land-use data from 2015. It explores the impact mechanisms of the landscape pattern metrics on the ESV using the ordinary least-squares method and spatial regression models in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomerations (MRYRUA), China. We found that forestland was the main landscape type in the MRYRUA, followed by cultivated land, and the fragmentation degree of cultivated land was significantly higher than that of forestland. The findings demonstrate that landscape pattern metrics had a significant impact on ecosystem services, but could vary greatly. Moreover, ecosystem services in the MRYRUA exhibited significant spatial spillover effects and cross-regional collaborative governance was an effective means of landscape planning. This paper acts as a scientific reference and effective guidance for landscape planning and regional ecosystem conservation in MRYRUA and other similarly fast-growing urban agglomerations.