Quantitatively assessing the effects of climate change and human activities on ecosystem degradation and restoration in southwest China
Z. G. Sun A F , J. S. Wu B , F. Liu A , T. Y. Shao C , X. B. Liu A , Y. Z. Chen D , X. H. Long C and Z. Rengel E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210 095, People’s Republic of China.
B Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100 081 Beijing, China.
C Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210 095, PR China.
D College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210 037, PR China.
E Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: sunzg@njau.edu.cn
The Rangeland Journal 41(4) 335-344 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ18111
Submitted: 19 November 2018 Accepted: 5 August 2019 Published: 5 September 2019
Abstract
Identifying the effects of climate change and human activities on the degradation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems is essential for sustainable management of these ecosystems. However, our knowledge of methodology on this topic is limited. To assess the relative contribution of climate change and human activities, actual and potential net primary productivity (NPPa and NPPp respectively), and human appropriation of net primary productivity (HANPP) were calculated and applied to the monitoring of forest, grassland, and cropland ecosystems in Yunnan–Guizhou–Sichuan Provinces, southwest China. We determined annual means of 476 g C m–2 year–1 for NPPa, 1314 g C m–2 year–1 for NPPp, and 849 g C m–2 year–1 for HANPP during the period between 2007 and 2016. Furthermore, the area with an increasing NPPa accounted for 75.12% of the total area of the three ecosystems. Similarly, the areas with increasing NPPp and HANPP accounted for 77.60 and 57.58% of the study area respectively. Furthermore, we found that ~57.58% of areas with ecosystem restored was due to climate change, 23.39% due to human activities, and 19.03% due to the combined effects of human activities and climate change. In contrast, climate change and human activities contributed to 19.47 and 76.36%, respectively, of the areas of degraded ecosystem. Only 4.17% of degraded ecosystem could be attributed to the combined influences of climate change and human activities. We conclude that human activities were mainly responsible for ecosystem degradation, whereas climate change benefitted ecosystem restoration in southwest China in the past decade.
Additional keywords: human appropriation of net primary productivity (HANPP), net primary productivity (NPP), productivity model, terrestrial degradation, terrestrial restoration, Yunnan–Guizhou–Sichuan Provinces, spatial distribution.
References
Baker, W. L., and Ehle, D. (2001). Uncertainty in surface-fire history: the case of ponderosa pine forests in the western United States. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 7, 1205–1226.Clewell, A., and Aronson, J. (2013). The SER primer and climate change. Ecological Management & Restoration 14, 182–186.
| The SER primer and climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Deng, X., Xu, Y., Han, L., Yu, Z., Yang, M., and Pan, G. (2015). Assessment of river health based on an improved entropy-based fuzzy matter-element model in the Taihu Plain, China. Ecological Indicators 57, 85–95.
| Assessment of river health based on an improved entropy-based fuzzy matter-element model in the Taihu Plain, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dimobe, K., Ouédraogo, A., Soma, S., Goetze, D., Porembski, S., and Thiombiano, A. (2015). Identification of driving factors of land degradation and deforestation in the Wildlife Reserve of Bontioli (Burkina Faso, West Africa). Global Ecology and Conservation 4, 559–571.
| Identification of driving factors of land degradation and deforestation in the Wildlife Reserve of Bontioli (Burkina Faso, West Africa).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dubovyk, O., Menz, G., Conrad, C., Kan, E., Machwitz, M., and Khamzina, A. (2013). Spatio-temporal analyses of cropland degradation in the irrigated lowlands of Uzbekistan using remote-sensing and logistic regression modeling. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185, 4775–4790.
| Spatio-temporal analyses of cropland degradation in the irrigated lowlands of Uzbekistan using remote-sensing and logistic regression modeling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Feng, Y., Cui, N., Zhao, L., Gong, D., and Zhang, K. (2017). Spatiotemporal variation of reference evapotranspiration during 1954–2013 in Southwest China. Quaternary International 141, 129–139.
| Spatiotemporal variation of reference evapotranspiration during 1954–2013 in Southwest China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Field, C. B., Randerson, J. T., and Malmstrom, C. M. (1995). Global net primary production: Combining ecology and remote sensing. Remote Sensing of Environment 51, 74–88.
| Global net primary production: Combining ecology and remote sensing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Friedl, M. A., McIver, D. K., Hodges, J. C., Zhang, X. Y., Muchoney, D., Strahler, A. H., Woodcock, C. E., Gopal, S., Schneider, A., Cooper, A., Baccini, A., Gao, F., and Schaaf, C. (2002). Global land cover mapping from MODIS: algorithms and early results. Remote Sensing of Environment 83, 287–302.
| Global land cover mapping from MODIS: algorithms and early results.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Friedl, M. A., Sulla-Menashe, D., Tan, B., Schneider, A., Ramankutty, N., Sibley, A., and Huang, X. M. (2010). MODIS Collection 5 Global Land Cover: algorithm refinements and characterization of new datasets. Remote Sensing of Environment 114, 168–182.
| MODIS Collection 5 Global Land Cover: algorithm refinements and characterization of new datasets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haberl, H., Wackernagel, M., Krausmann, F., Erb, K. H., and Monfreda, C. (2004). Ecological footprints and human appropriation of net primary production: a comparison. Land Use Policy 21, 279–288.
| Ecological footprints and human appropriation of net primary production: a comparison.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hay, R. K. M. (1995). Harvest index: a review of its use in plant breeding and crop physiology. Annals of Applied Biology 126, 197–216.
| Harvest index: a review of its use in plant breeding and crop physiology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jahelnabi, A. E., Zhao, J., Li, C. H., Fadoul, S. M., Shi, Y., Bsheer, A. K., and Yagoub, Y. E. (2016). Assessment of the contribution of climate change and human activities to desertification in Northern Kordofan-Province, Sudan using net primary productivity as an indicator. Contemporary Problems of Ecology 9, 674–683.
| Assessment of the contribution of climate change and human activities to desertification in Northern Kordofan-Province, Sudan using net primary productivity as an indicator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Karbassi, A. R., Amiri, M. J., Zoghi, M., Sadat, M., and Tajziehchi, S. (2015). The development of strategies for wetland restoration by comprehensive assessment of hydrological, land use and climate changes. International Journal of Environmental of Research 9, 621–634.
Kriticos, D. J., Jarošik, V., and Ota, N. (2015). Extending the suite of bioclimatic variables: a proposed registry system and case study using principal components analysis. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 5, 956–960.
| Extending the suite of bioclimatic variables: a proposed registry system and case study using principal components analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambin, E. F., Geist, H. J., and Lepers, E. (2003). Dynamics of land-use and land-cover change in tropical regions. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 28, 205–241.
| Dynamics of land-use and land-cover change in tropical regions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li, Z., Xu, X., Liu, M., Li, X., Zhang, R., Wang, K., and Xu, C. (2017). State-space prediction of spring discharge in a karst catchment in southwest China. Journal of Hydrology 549, 264–276.
| State-space prediction of spring discharge in a karst catchment in southwest China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lieth, H., and Box, E. (1972). Evapotranspiration and primary productivity: CW Thornthwaite memorial model. Publications in Climatology 25, 37–46.
Lieth, H., and Whittaker, R. H. (1975). ‘Primary Productivity of the Biosphere.’ (Springer: New York.)
Liu, L., and Xu, Z. X. (2016). Regionalization of precipitation and the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation in southwestern China. Natural Hazards 80, 1195–1211.
| Regionalization of precipitation and the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation in southwestern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lobell, D. B., Hicke, J. A., Asner, G. P., Field, C. B., Tucker, C. J., and Los, S. O. (2002). Satellite estimates of productivity and light use efficiency in the United States agriculture, 1982–1998. Global Change Biology 8, 722–735.
| Satellite estimates of productivity and light use efficiency in the United States agriculture, 1982–1998.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maliki, A. A., Bruce, D., and Owens, G. (2015). Spatial distribution of Pb in urban soil from Port Pirie, South Australia. Environmental Technology & Innovation 4, 123–136.
| Spatial distribution of Pb in urban soil from Port Pirie, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
NRC (National Research Council) (1982). ‘United States–Canadian Tables of Feed Composition.’ (National Academy Press: Washington, DC.)
Peng, S., Chen, A., Xu, L., Cao, C., Fang, J., Myneni, R. B., Pinzon, J. E., Tucker, C. J., and Piao, S. (2011). Recent change of vegetation growth trend in China. Environmental Research Letters 6, 044027.
| Recent change of vegetation growth trend in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Piao, S., Ciais, P., Huang, Y., Shen, Z., Peng, S., Li, J., Zhou, L., Liu, H., Ma, Y., Ding, Y., Friedlingstein, P., Liu, C., Tan, K., Yu, Y., Zhang, T., and Fang, J. (2010). The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China. Nature 467, 43–51.
| The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Qin, N. X., Chen, X., Fu, G. B., Zhai, J. Q., and Xue, X. (2010). Precipitation and temperature trends for the Southwest China: 1960–2007. Hydrological Processes 24, 3733–3744.
| Precipitation and temperature trends for the Southwest China: 1960–2007.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Running, S. W. (2012). A measurable planetary boundary for the biosphere. Science 337, 1458–1459.
| A measurable planetary boundary for the biosphere.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schlesinger, W. H. (1997). ‘Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change.’ 2nd edn. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA, USA.)
Shi, S., Cao, Q., Yao, Y., Tang, H., Yang, P., Wu, W., Xu, H., Liu, J., and Li, Z. (2014). Influence of climate and socio-economic factors on the spatio-temporal variability of soil organic matter: a case study of Central Heilongjiang Province, China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 13, 1486–1500.
| Influence of climate and socio-economic factors on the spatio-temporal variability of soil organic matter: a case study of Central Heilongjiang Province, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Steingrobe, B., Schmid, H., Gutser, R., and Claassen, N. (2001). Root production and root mortality of winter wheat grown on sandy and loamy soils in different farming systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 33, 331–339.
| Root production and root mortality of winter wheat grown on sandy and loamy soils in different farming systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Strunk, H. (2003). Soil degradation and overland flow as causes of gully erosion on mountain pastures and in forests. Catena 50, 185–198.
| Soil degradation and overland flow as causes of gully erosion on mountain pastures and in forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sun, Z. G., Sun, C. M., Zhou, W., Ju, W. M., and Li, J. L. (2013). Evaluating the net primary productivity in the grasslands of southern China from 2001 to 2010 using a new land portfolio assessment model. Plant Ecology 214, 1223–1232.
| Evaluating the net primary productivity in the grasslands of southern China from 2001 to 2010 using a new land portfolio assessment model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tolvanen, A., and Aronson, J. (2016). Ecological restoration, ecosystem services, and land use: an European perspective. Ecology and Society 21, art47.
| Ecological restoration, ecosystem services, and land use: an European perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (2016). ‘Land degradation neutrality: the target setting programme.’ (United Nations: Bonn, Germany.)
Vitousek, P. M., Mooney, H. A., Lubchenco, J., and Melillo, J. M. (1997). Human domination of earth’s ecosystems. Science 277, 494–499.
| Human domination of earth’s ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wairiu, M. (2017). Land degradation and sustainable land management practices in Pacific Island countries. Regional Environmental Change 17, 1053–1064.
| Land degradation and sustainable land management practices in Pacific Island countries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, H., Li, X. B., Long, H. L., Gai, Y. Q., and Wei, D. D. (2009). Monitoring the effects of land use and cover changes on net primary production: a case study in China’s Yongding River basin. Forest Ecology and Management 258, 2654–2665.
| Monitoring the effects of land use and cover changes on net primary production: a case study in China’s Yongding River basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, N., Jiao, J. Y., Du, H. D., Wang, D. L., Jia, Y. F., and Chen, Y. (2013a). The role of local species pool, soil seed bank and seedling pool in natural vegetation restoration on abandoned slope land. Ecological Engineering 52, 28–36.
| The role of local species pool, soil seed bank and seedling pool in natural vegetation restoration on abandoned slope land.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, S., Jiao, S., and Xin, H. (2013b). Spatio-temporal characteristics of temperature and precipitation in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, 1960–2009. Quaternary International 286, 103–115.
| Spatio-temporal characteristics of temperature and precipitation in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, 1960–2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wessels, K. J., Prince, S. D., Malherbe, J., Small, J., Frost, P. E., and Vanzyl, D. (2007). Can human-induced land degradation be distinguished from the effects of rainfall variability? A case study in South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 68, 271–297.
| Can human-induced land degradation be distinguished from the effects of rainfall variability? A case study in South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiebe, K., Lotze-Campen, H., Sands, R., Tabeau, A., Mensbrugghe, D. V. D., Biewald, A., Bodirsky, B., Islam, S., Kavallari, A., Croz, D. M., Müller, C., Popp, A., Robertson, R., Robinson, S., Meijl, H. V., and Willenbockel, D. (2015). Climate change impacts on agriculture in 2050 under a range of plausible socioeconomic and emissions scenarios. Environmental Research Letters 10, .
| Climate change impacts on agriculture in 2050 under a range of plausible socioeconomic and emissions scenarios.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson, J. (2007). Ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) [online]. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aura/spacecraft/omi.html (accessed 12 August 2019).
Yan, X., and Cai, Y. L. (2015). Multi-scale anthropogenic driving forces of Karst rocky desertification in southwest China. Land Degradation & Development 26, 193–200.
| Multi-scale anthropogenic driving forces of Karst rocky desertification in southwest China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yan, H. M., Liu, J. Y., Huang, H. Q., Tao, B., and Cao, M. K. (2009). Assessing the consequence of land use change on agricultural productivity in China. Global and Planetary Change 67, 13–19.
| Assessing the consequence of land use change on agricultural productivity in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang, Y. H., Fang, J. Y., Pan, Y. D., and Ji, C. J. (2009). Aboveground biomass in Tibetan grasslands. Journal of Arid Environments 73, 91–95.
| Aboveground biomass in Tibetan grasslands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yao, H., Wilkes, A., Zhu, G., Zhang, H., Liu, X., Ding, D., Zhai, X., Tang, S., Chen, Q., Zhang, Y., Huang, D., and Wang, C. (2016). Stable carbon isotope as a signal index for monitoring grassland degradation. Scientific Reports 6, 31399.
| Stable carbon isotope as a signal index for monitoring grassland degradation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yu, D. Y., Shi, P. J., Han, G. Y., Zhu, W. Q., Du, S. Q., and Xun, B. (2011). Forest ecosystem restoration due to a national conservation plan in China. Ecological Engineering 37, 1387–1397.
| Forest ecosystem restoration due to a national conservation plan in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhai, P. M., and Pan, X. H. (2003). Trends in temperature extremes during 1951–1999 in China. Geophysical Research Letters 30, .
| Trends in temperature extremes during 1951–1999 in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhang, Y., Song, C., Zhang, K., Cheng, X., and Zhang, Q. (2013). Spatial–temporal variability of terrestrial vegetation productivity in the Yangtze River Basin during 2000–2009. Journal of Plant Ecology 1, 10–23.
Zhao, M., and Running, S. W. (2010). Drought-induced reduction in global terrestrial net primary production from 2000 through 2009. Science 329, 940–943.
| Drought-induced reduction in global terrestrial net primary production from 2000 through 2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhao, J., Yang, Y., Zhao, Q., and Zhao, Z. (2017). Effects of ecological restoration projects on changes in land cover: a case study on the Loess Plateau in China. Scientific Reports 7, 44496.
| Effects of ecological restoration projects on changes in land cover: a case study on the Loess Plateau in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhou, Y., Chen, J., Chen, X., Cao, X., and Zhu, X. (2013). Two important indicators with potential to identify Caragana microphylla in xilin gol grassland from temporal MODIS data. Ecological Indicators 34, 520–527.
| Two important indicators with potential to identify Caragana microphylla in xilin gol grassland from temporal MODIS data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhou, W., Gang, C., Zhou, F., Li, J., Dong, X., and Zhao, C. (2015). Quantitative assessment of the individual contribution of climate and human factors to desertification in northwest China using net primary productivity as an indicator. Ecological Indicators 48, 560–569.
| Quantitative assessment of the individual contribution of climate and human factors to desertification in northwest China using net primary productivity as an indicator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
