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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2024, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (12): 191-200.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20230488

• Scientific notes • Previous Articles    

Recovery Process of Giant Panda Habitat After Deforestation in the Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve

Hui Li1(),Qunyan Zhang1,Guanhua Pu1,Huakang Yin1,Liqiang Fu2,Zeen Mao3,Jindong Zhang1,*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Southwest Wildlife Resources Protection Ministry of Education College of Life Sciences,China West Normal University Nanchong 637009
    2. Sichuan Mabian Dafengding National Natural Reserve Conservation Center Leshan 614600
    3. Mabian County Forestry Bureau Leshan 614600
  • Received:2023-10-12 Online:2024-12-25 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: Jindong Zhang E-mail:lupus999@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: The forest ecosystem composed of tall trees plays an irreplaceable role in Giant Panda habitat. Since 1990s, forest in Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve suffered from deforestation by forest industry enterprises, causing serious impacts on the habitat of Giant Pandas. With the implementation of forest conservation projects such as the Natural Forest Protection Project, the forest vegetation has gradually recovered. Understanding the process of forest recovery after logging provides a fundamental basis for formulating restoration measures for the Giant Panda habitat. Method: Based on Landsat satellite data, this study conducted an analysis using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification method and the moving window approach to examine changes in forest cover over a 40-year period before and after forest logging in the Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve. Field surveys were also conducted to assess habitat fragmentation and connectivity. Result: The research findings indicate that the forest within the reserve experienced heavily logging, the forest area decreasing from 295km2 to 230 km2, followed by a gradual recovering to 274km2 and reaching 277km2 in recent year. With the forest area gradually approaching the pre-logging level, the recovery rate decreasing as well, moreover, small-scale illegal logging is still damaging forest restoration. The heavily logged areas are concentrated mainly along the Sichanglada-Jueluohuo fire prevention road and in the southwestern region of the Yonghong conservation zone and the northern area of the Mani conservation point, resulting in the highly connected forestland in the reserve being blocked and divided into three zones. Among these, the Sichanglada-Jueluohuo fire prevention road area is the most severely affected and representative. Early-stage restoration efforts in this area did not reach the requirements for suitable habitat for Giant Pandas, improvement is in need, area is suitable for experimenting with forest recovery and protection measures. Conclusion: Forest fragmentation is pronounced within the reserve, with distinct separations between different blocks. It is necessary and urgent to carry out habitat restoration which aim at Giant Pandas` original habitat, establish Giant Pandas` habitat corridor, and strengthen control measures.

Key words: deforestation, forest restoration, moving window method, habitat of giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve

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