PRESSURE ANALYSIS AND SPATIAL QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON LAGOON ECOSYSTEM: A CASE STUDY IN XINCUN AND LI’AN LAGOONS, HAINAN, CHINA

Abstract

Compared to bays, coastal lagoons are more vulnerable to the effects of human activities. The continued deterioration of the Xincun and Li'an Lagoon ecosystems has affected habitat health in the region; therefore, the State Oceanic Administration has proposed the "Blue Bay Remediation Action Plan". To formulate a comprehensive, evidence-based remediation plan, a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem pressure that includes a quantitative spatial study of the cumulative impact intensity of human activities was conducted in the study region. The results showed that the Xincun Lagoon ecosystem pressure composite values have gradually decreased since 2012. Additionally, the area of extremely strong human activities accounted for only 6.67% of the sea area, most of which was distributed at the mouth of the lagoon. However, the ecosystem pressure composite value of the Li'an Lagoon continued to grow until 2014, at which time the area of extremely strong human activities accounted for 13.53% of the sea area, primarily in the Li'an town center region.