Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Wetlands in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 1976 to 2019

Abstract

Wetland ecosystems contain rich natural resources and vital ecological functions, and the investigation of spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of wetlands and their driving factors is critical for the management and conservation of wetlands. This study aimed to explore the spatial and temporal dynamics of wetlands in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 1976 to 2019 using multi-source remote sensing data (DISP KH-9, Landsat, and GaoFen-1), combing with the object-based classification method and landscape invasion index, and further analyze the driving forces affecting the spatial and temporal evolution of wetlands. The results showed that: (1) The total area of wetlands in the GBA showed a trend to first increase and then stabilize from 1976 to 2019. (2) The rapid development of aquaculture led to a continuous increase in aquaculture ponds and offshore aquaculture and a flat change in the middle and late stages, the area of mangroves declined substantially before 2000 and has gradually recovered since then, the invasion of various types of wetlands by built-up land is increasing, and wetlands are becoming increasingly fragmented. (3) The wetland changes in the GBA are the result of a combination of natural factors and human activities. Environmental conditions represent the basis for wetland dynamics, while the population, socio-economics, and policies are important drivers of wetland evolution. The findings will be beneficial to the understanding of wetland dynamic changes in the GBA over the past 40 years, and helpful to the scientific management and sustainable development of wetlands.

The potential of historical spy-satellite imagery to support research in ecology and conservation

“…Historical spy-satellite data has been successfully used for mapping land cover and, therefore, ecosystem extent, especially of forests (Wardell et al 2003 , Rannow 2013 , Dao Minh et al 2017 ); agriculture (Dao Minh et al 2009 , Munteanu et al 2020 , Rendenieks et al 2020 ); shrub encroachment (Frost and Epstein 2013 ); surface water (Hamandawana 2007 , Shugar et al 2020 , Liu et al 2022 ); and urban expansion (Cetin 2009 ). These studies highlight that historical ecosystem changes sometimes outpaced more recent changes mapped with Landsat-era remote sensing data (Nita et al 2018 , Munteanu et al 2020 ).…”

The Association between Rapid Urbanization Process and Mangrove Land Use Changes in Coastal Regions of Mainland China: A ten-years Systematic Review

“…With the increasing intensity of human activities, pollution is one of the most apparent and persistent threats to mangrove health. High levels of organic wastewater discharged from aquaculture can have adverse effects on mangroves, especially on seedlings (Lu et al, 2022).…”

Driving Force Analysis of Natural Wetland in Northeast Plain Based on SSA-XGBoost Model

“…Due to the lack of effective methods to control excessive human activity, the fifth assessment reports from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) predicted further global warming trends, including the temperature rising, a precipitation regime shift, a sea level rise, and an increasing frequency of extreme climate events [33][34][35]. Previous studies have confirmed that the main driving factors for wetlands include precipitation, temperature, elevation, slope, population, and GDP (gross domestic product), which significantly influence the spatial and temporal variations of wetlands [36][37][38]. Therefore, constructing a perfect indicator system of driving factors is the primary issue in wetland variation analysis.…”