Identifying and optimizing key areas provide insights for landscape ecological planning: A case study in Guangxi, China

Abstract

Context A crucial step in achieving sustainable development is identifying and safeguarding critical natural asset sites. Objectives Improving spatial connectivity and accessibility by optimizing the distribution and spatial structure of key sites is an effective strategy to achieve environmental preservation and economic development. Methods Guangxi was chosen as the research area. The Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) was used to determine the ecological source. A comprehensive resistance evaluation index system for ecological source land expansion was created using the multifactor integrated decision-making method. The internal defects of the initial ecological network were extracted using the minimum cumulative resistance model and circuit theory and the priority areas for restoration and protection were determined with clear spatial positions. Results 168 ecological barriers, 83 ecological pinch points and 71 ecological stepping stones were selected as priority areas for protection and restoration. The total area of priority area is 22090.009km2. After optimization, there are 332 new ecological sources and the number of ecological corridors has increased from 1,219 to 2,078. The ecological corridor is 23922.071 km in total. The GEP of the optimized structure increased by 13.338% compared to that of the unoptimized structure. The connectivity of the optimized ecological network structure is obviously improved., and it has better resistance and resilience to random attacks and malicious attacks. Conclusions This study attempts to identify key sites of ecological assets and the priority regions of restoration and conservation with genuine geographical location, and reference material for regional ecological network optimization and implementation.