Evaluation Of Ecological Recovery After 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake

The earthquake that occurred in Sichuan, China on May 12,2008 shocked the world. Not only did it cause huge injuries and economic losses, but also the earthquake ruined the local ecosystem badly. Many geological disasters triggered by the earthquake, such as landslides; avalanches, mudslides and so on. They destroyed original natural landscape, changed the way of land use and became a huge threat to the local ecosystem. To make sure the degree of recovery of damaged ecosystem is helpful to find key areas which need more attention in its ecological recovery. Therefore, evaluating the ecological recovery after 512 Wenchuan Earthquake and researching the ecological damage play an important role in managing the ecological environment scientifically.In this study, considering characteristics of ecological function in hardest-hit areas by 512 earthquake, it was built an system for evaluating ecological recovery by using RS and GIS techniques. The research is evaluating ecological recovery of ten citis which were hit heavily by 512 earthquake in perspective of soil and water conservation and maintenance of biological diversity. The conclusion is that the ecosystem has been recovering but it has not reach the level before earthquake. Soil and water conservation of ecosystem in ten cities improved obviously, especially Qingchuan and Pingwu. Water conservation keeps recovering except that of Beichuan and Mao. In the five years after earthquake, besides An and Beichuan, maintenance of biodiversity function in the other citis has been improving.The research on soil fertility in ten cities has been carried on at the same time.The result shows that soil nutrients in Pengzhou, Shifang, Dujiangyan, Mianzhu, An, Beichuan that are located on the southern of the Longmen Mountains has been restoring from 2011 to 2013. On the contrary, soil nutrients declined in Wenchuan and Mao.According to the condition of ecological recovery in ten cities, the author suggested that the damaged eco-environment should be recovered by the method of natural recovery and manual intervention. The representative physical features in different regions should be considered when the recovery measures are taken. We should pay more attention to ecological recovery after earthquakes.