Impacts Of Forest Landscape Dynamics On Ecosystem Services In The Transnational Area Of Changbai Mountain

Effective and timely quantification of impacts of forest landscape dynamic changes on ecosystem services in the transnational area of Changbai Mountain(TACM)has a significance on the regional land use management,ecosystem services of protection and sustainable development.However,the impacts of forest landscape dynamic changes on ecosystem services in the TACM based on long time series have not yet been adequately explained.In this paper,our objective was to quantify impacts of forest landscape dynamic changes on ecosystem services in the TACM between 1977 and 2015.The leading progresses and conclusion of the dissertation can be seen as follows:(1)The process of spatiotemporal dynamics of LUCC in the TACM between 1977 and 2015 were quantified.We used land use data extracted from Landsat images and landscape metrics to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of forest in the TACM from 1977 to 2015 and compared the dynamics of forest between the area in China and the area in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).After that,we investigated the driving forces of forest dynamics.We found that the TACM experienced a noticeable forest decrease-from 1.57 million ha in 1977 to 1.48 million ha in 2015,a decline of 5.78%-and underwent a forest fragmentation process.In particular,the sub-region in the DPRK had a much larger decrease than the sub-region in China.We found that timber harvesting,urban expansion,agricultural reclamation,and typhoon disasters were the main driving forces behind forest decreases in the TACM.Specifically,agricultural reclamation was the most important factor in the DPRK sub-region,while urban expansion was the dominant factor in the Chinese sub-region.(2)The process of spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem services in the TACM between 1977 and 2015 were quantified.Based on habitat quality,carbon storage and water yield estimated using InVEST model,we evaluated Spatiotemporal patterns of ecosystem services in the TACM between 1977 and 2015 at the whole TACM,the Chinese side and the DPRK's side.The results showed that the habitat quality,carbon storage had a decreasing trend in the whole TACM,decreased by 7.10%(from 0.76 to 0.71)and 11.21%(from 0.40 billion t to 0.36 billion t)respectively,while water yield showed an increasing rend(from 4.54 billion m3 to 4.88 billion m3-a augment of 7.50%)in the whole TACM.In particular,the sub-region in the DPRK had a much larger decrease than the sub-region in China.(3)The impacts of forest landscape dynamic changes on ecosystem services in the TACM between 1977 and 2015 were evaluated.By analyzing the changes of habitat quality,carbon storage and water yield of LUCC and forest landscape dynamics in the TACM,we evaluated the impacts of forest landscape dynamics on ecosystem services in the TACM between 1977 and 2015 at multiple scales ranging from the whole TACM to both sides of China and the DPRK.We found that forest landscape dynamics is the main reason of regional carbon storage loss and water yield increase.The carbon storage loss accounted for 0.06 billion t or 99.87%of the total carbon storage loss in the TACM,while the water yield increase accounted for 0.46 billion m3 or 91.50%of the total water yield increase in the TACM.And the rates of carbon storage loss and water yield increase on the DPRK's side were higher than that on Chinese side.The conversions from forest to grassland,built-up area and cropland were the main driving forces behind carbon storage decreases in the TACM.Specifically,the conversions from forest to grassland and built-up area were the most important factor in the Chinese sub-region,while the conversions from forest to grassland and cropland were the dominant factor in the DPRK sub-region.The conversions from forest to grassland and built-up area were the main driving forces of the increase of water yield in the TACM.In particular,the conversions from forest to built-up area and grassland were the most important factor in the Chinese sub-region,while the conversions from forest to grassland and cropland were the dominant factor in the DPRK sub-region.The areas of influences of forest landscape dynamics on carbon storage,water yield and habitat quality in the TACM are mainly concentrated in Fusong county,Linjiang county and Changbai county on Chinese side,while in Sanchiyuan county,Dahongtuan county,Baiyan county and Yunxing county.Under the management of different systems between China and the DPRK,the land use of TACM has changed in various ways,resulting in different impacts on ecosystem services.Therefore,the two sides should strengthen cooperation and formulate reasonable land management policies to maintain the sustainable development of TACM.