Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China

Nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, many nature reserves are facing enormous pressures from human activities. The assessment of the sustainability of nature reserves is a fundamental task for the p...

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Main Authors: Xiaoman Liu, Dong Jiang, Qiao Wang, Huiming Liu, Jin Li, Zhuo Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-12-01
Series:Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/12/1272
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spelling doaj-5b89cf9b38e045cabcaaf9ee65c532b42020-11-24T20:40:38ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502016-12-01812127210.3390/su8121272su8121272Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in ChinaXiaoman Liu0Dong Jiang1Qiao Wang2Huiming Liu3Jin Li4Zhuo Fu5Satellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, ChinaInstitute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaSatellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, ChinaSatellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, ChinaSatellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, ChinaSatellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, ChinaNature reserves are established to protect ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, many nature reserves are facing enormous pressures from human activities. The assessment of the sustainability of nature reserves is a fundamental task for the planning and management of such areas. In this study, the sustainability of China’s 319 national nature reserves (NRRs) was evaluated based on an ecological footprint (EF) method. The results indicated that the per capita ecological footprints of all national nature reserves increased 85.86% from 2000 to 2010. Meanwhile, the per capita biocapacity (BC) of all national nature reserves increased slightly, with a rate of increase of 1.79%. The ‘traffic light’ method was adopted to identify the sustainability status of those national nature reserves. It was found that currently (2010) 45% of NRRs were in the condition of ecological deficit. In terms of dynamic changes in EF and BC, only 16% of NRRs were sustainable. The 124 national nature reserves that were in the red light state were mainly distributed in Anhui Province, Chongqing City, Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian, Shandong Province, and Inner Mongolia. The percentage of nature reserves at the red light state in these areas were 83.3%, 66.7%, 64.7%, 62.5%, 58.3%, 57.1%, and 56.5%, respectively. The reserves in the red light state should be included in the priority concern level and should be strictly controlled in terms of population growth and the intensity of exploitation. The results of this study will provide more effective data for reference and for decision making support in nature reserve protection.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/12/1272national nature reservessustainabilityecological footprint method‘traffic light’ method
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Xiaoman Liu
Dong Jiang
Qiao Wang
Huiming Liu
Jin Li
Zhuo Fu
spellingShingle Xiaoman Liu
Dong Jiang
Qiao Wang
Huiming Liu
Jin Li
Zhuo Fu
Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
Sustainability
national nature reserves
sustainability
ecological footprint method
‘traffic light’ method
author_facet Xiaoman Liu
Dong Jiang
Qiao Wang
Huiming Liu
Jin Li
Zhuo Fu
author_sort Xiaoman Liu
title Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
title_short Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
title_full Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
title_fullStr Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China
title_sort evaluating the sustainability of nature reserves using an ecological footprint method: a case study in china
publisher MDPI AG
series Sustainability
issn 2071-1050
publishDate 2016-12-01
description Nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, many nature reserves are facing enormous pressures from human activities. The assessment of the sustainability of nature reserves is a fundamental task for the planning and management of such areas. In this study, the sustainability of China’s 319 national nature reserves (NRRs) was evaluated based on an ecological footprint (EF) method. The results indicated that the per capita ecological footprints of all national nature reserves increased 85.86% from 2000 to 2010. Meanwhile, the per capita biocapacity (BC) of all national nature reserves increased slightly, with a rate of increase of 1.79%. The ‘traffic light’ method was adopted to identify the sustainability status of those national nature reserves. It was found that currently (2010) 45% of NRRs were in the condition of ecological deficit. In terms of dynamic changes in EF and BC, only 16% of NRRs were sustainable. The 124 national nature reserves that were in the red light state were mainly distributed in Anhui Province, Chongqing City, Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian, Shandong Province, and Inner Mongolia. The percentage of nature reserves at the red light state in these areas were 83.3%, 66.7%, 64.7%, 62.5%, 58.3%, 57.1%, and 56.5%, respectively. The reserves in the red light state should be included in the priority concern level and should be strictly controlled in terms of population growth and the intensity of exploitation. The results of this study will provide more effective data for reference and for decision making support in nature reserve protection.
topic national nature reserves
sustainability
ecological footprint method
‘traffic light’ method
url http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/12/1272
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