Spatial-temporal characteristics and driving forces of woodland resource changes in China

Abstract

Supported by the land-use/cover data set of National Resources and Environment Database (NRED) in the years of 1985, 1995 and 2000, spatial patterns and temporal variations of woodland resource changes from 1985 to 2000 were studied in the paper. According to the woodland dynamic degree model and time series analysis, the authors disclose the spatial pattern and internal causes of woodland changing processes. It was found that the net increase of woodland amounted to 2 226.3 thousand/hm during the period of 1985-1995, and from 1995 to 2000 the total area of woodland decreased, but the net increase of forest totalled 845.6 thou-sand hm~2 . On the other hand, the scope and depth of woodland change had heterogenous characteristics . Dur-ing 1985-2000 the total woodland area decreased, especially in the traditional forest regions such as northeast China, southwest China. But in other regions such as Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces the woodland increased.