Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Applying systematic conservation planning to constitute a protection strategy for broad-leaved Korean pine forests in Changbai Mountains, China

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The broad-leaved Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest is one of the most biodiverse zonal communities in the North Temperate Zone and an important habitat for many endangered species. Broad-leaved Korean pine forests (BKPFs) are shrinking quickly due to deforestation and rapid urbanization. Thus, scientific protection strategies are urgently needed to change this status. Changbai Mountains contains one of the largest BKPFs and is considered a priority biodiversity conservation area in China. Guided by systematic conservation planning (SCP) methods and procedures, we chose representative species and communities in BKPFs ecosystem as priority conservation objects, and set quantitative conservation target, which is in the light of the biodiversity characteristic of BKPFs. The watershed area is used as planning unit. We used C-Plan software to calculate the irreplaceability (Ir) value of each planning unit and the contribution value (T i ) of each conservation object to (1) assess the conservation efficiency; (2) identify the conservation gap of the existing conservation network. Then we calculated a human disturbance index (HDI) for planning units in the conservation gaps and combine this with the Ir value to design three conservation scenarios to optimize the conservation network. Results show that planning units with high conservation value 14.16% of the total area, with 3084.36 km2 were covered by the existing conservation network. 79.28% of planning units with high conservation value have not been protected which were concentrated mainly in the eight gap areas. Only 25.3% of protection objects achieved their conservation target with the existing conservation network. Conservation efficiency is low. Three conservation scenarios are constituted, each prioritizing a different aim: (1) ecological value; (2) species rescue; and (3) economical avoidance. The three conservation schemes potentially enable 93%, 88% and 51% of conservation objects, respectively, to achieve identified conservation targets, thereby improving conservation efficiency significantly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown MT, Cohen MJ, Bardi E, et al. (2006) Species diversity in the Florida Everglades, USA: A systems approach to calculating biodiversity. Aquatic Sciences 68: 254–277. DOI 10.1007/s00027-006-0854-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carwardine J, Rochester W, Richardson K, et al. (2007) Conservation planning with irreplaceability: does the method matter? Biodiversity and Conservation 16(1): 245–258. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-006-9055-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Wang SX, Wang ZG (2010) Biodiversity Conservation Sustainable Development of Changbaishan Reserve and Development Zones. Changchun: Jilin Science & Technology Publishing. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowing RM, Pressey RL, Rouget M, et al. (2003b) A conservation plan for a global biodiversity hotspot-the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Biological Conservation 112: 191–216. DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00425-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowling RM, Pressey RL, Sims-Castley R, et al. (2003a) The expert or the algorithm–comparison of priority conservation areas in the Cape Floristic Region identified by park managers and reserve selection software. Biological Conservation 112: 147–167. DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00397-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drummond SP, Wilson KA, Meijaard E, et al. (2010) Influence of a threatened-species focus on conservation planning. Conservation Biology 24(2): 441–449. DOI:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01346.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ecological website of Changbai Mountain. Available online at: http://www.changbaishan.gov.cn/EcologyWeb/main.aspx (Accessed on 8 November 2011)

  • Editorial Board of the Vegetation Map of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2001) The Vegetation Atlas of China 1:1000000. Beijing: Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial committee of the report of China’s Biodiversity (1998) The report of China’s Biodiversity. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrier S, Pressey RL, Barrett TW (2000) A new predictor of the irreplaceability of areas for achieving a conservation goal, its application to real-world planning, and research agenda for further refinement. Biological Conservation 93:303–326. DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00149-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao W (2006) Studies on Birds and Their Ecology in Northeast China. Beijing: Science Press. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge JP, Li JW, Guo HY, et al. (1995) Study on community structure and self-sustaining mechanism of broadleaved/Korean pine forests in northeast China. Journal of forestry research 6(3): 11–18. DOI: 10.1007/BF02880625

    Google Scholar 

  • Geospatial Data Cloud. Digital elevation model. Available online at: http://www.gscloud.cn/(Accessed on 22 November 2013)

  • Guo LP, Ji LZ, Wang Z, et al. (2011) Dynamic changes of dominant tree species in broad-leaved Korean pine forest at different succession stages in Changbai Mountains. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 22(04): 866–872.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han W, Xu JY, Zhao CT (2013) Progress in the Study of Network Planning and Design of Nature Reserves Based on Regional Scale in China. Journal of Captial Normal University (Nature Science Edition) 34(1): 54–58. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard PC, Viskanic P, Tim RBD (1998) Complementarity and the use of indicator groups for reserve selection in Uganda. Nature 394 (6692): 472–475. DOI: 10.1038/28843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jilin Province Biological Diversity Protection Strategy and Action Plan (2013) http://hbj.jl.gov.cn/hbyw/zrst_42212/swdyx/201312/t20131210_1582804.html

  • Jilin Pubic Service Platform of Geographic information. Available online at: http://gis.jl.gov.cn/(Accessed on 12 March2014)

  • Li JQ, Li JW (2003) Regeneration and restoration of broadleaved Korean pine forests in Lesser Xing’ an Mountains of Northeast China. Acta Ecologica Sinica 23(7): 1268–1277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Qu Y, Sun GQ, et al. (2015) Conservation effectiveness of broadleaved korean pine forest in Changbai Mt. based on CPlan systematic conservation planning software. Acta Ecologica Sinica 35(13): 4547–4557. DOI: 10.5846/stxb201404040643

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang L, Li AX, Shao GF (2011) Landscape-level Forest Ecosystem Conservation on Changbai Mountain, China and North Korea (DPRK). Mountain Research and Development 31(2): 169–175. DOI: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-10-00120.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lourival R, McCallum H, Grigg G, et al. (2009) A Systematic evaluation of the conservation plans for the pantanal wetland in brazil wetlands 29(4): 1189–1201. DOI: 10.1672/08-118.1

    Google Scholar 

  • Luan XF, Huang WN, Wang XL (2009) Identification of hotspots and gaps for biodiversity conservation in Northeast China based on a systematic conservation planning methodology. Acta Ecologica Sinica 29(1): 0144–0150. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luan XF, Qu Yi, Li D (2011). Habitat evaluation of wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and conservation priority setting in north-eastern China. Journal of Environmental Management 92: 31–42. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margules CR & Pressey RL (2000) Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405(6783): 243–253. DOI: 10.1038/35012251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Geomatics Center of China. 1:250000 National Topographic Database. Available online at: http://www. ngcc.cn/article/xxfw/slgg/(Available online at 2 March 2014)

  • New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) CPlan Conservation Planning Software User Manual for C-Plan Version 3.06. Available online at: http://www.ozemail.com. au/~cplan (Accessed on 12 February 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogureeva GN, Dudov SV, Karimova TY (2012). Diversity and Protection of Korean Pine Broad-leaved Forests in the Manchurian Natural Area. Contemporary Problems of Ecology 5(7): 621–632. DOI: 10.1134/S1995425512070062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peres CA and Terborgh JW (1995) Amazonian nature-reserves: an analysis of the defensibility status of existing conservation units and design criteria for the future. Conservation Biology 9(1): 34–46. DOI:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1995.09010034x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popescu VD, Rozylowicz L, Cogalniceanu D, et al. (2013) Moving into protected areas? Setting conservation priorities for Romanian reptiles and amphibians at risk from climate change. PLoS ONE 8(11):e79330. DOI: 10.1371/journal. pone.0079330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pressey RL, Cowing RM, Rouget M (2003) Formulating conservation targets for biodiversity pattern and process in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Biological Conservation. pp 99–127. DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(02) 00424-X

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu Y, Wang XL, Luan XF, et al. (2011) Irreplaceability-based function zoning of nature reserves in the Three Rivers Headwater Region of Qinghai Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica 31(13): 3609–3620. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Xie Y (2009) China Species Red List. Beijing: Higher Education Press (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S (1998) China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals. Beijing: Science Press. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XC, Liang WJ, Liu JF (2000) Ecological Regional and Adaptable Tree for Adaptable Stand of Korean Pine in Jilin Province. Journal of Northeast Forestry University 28(3): 1–4. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson KA, McBride MF, Bode M, et al. (2006) Prioritizing global conservation efforts. Nature 440(7082): 337–340 DOI: 10.1038/nature04366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu B, Zhu CQ, Li DQ, et al. (2006) Setting biodiversity conservation priorities in the Forests of the Upper Yangtze Ecoregion based on ecoregion conservation methodology. Biodiversity science 14(2): 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia FC (2007) Study on the Plant Biodiversity and Spatial Patterns of Broad-leaved Korean Pine Forest in Changbai Mountain. Beijing Forestry University. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao J, Xu WH, Kang DW, et al. (2011) Nature reserve group planning for conservation of giant pandas in North Minshan, China. Journal for Nature Conservation 19:209–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X and Xu M (2003) Biodiversity conservation in Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, northeastern China: status, problem, and strategy. Biodiversity and Conservation 12: 883–903 DOI: 10.1023/A: 1022841107685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu LQ, Li JW, Zhao XH, et al. (2014) Ecologically critical areas of broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountains, China, Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 25(5): 1250–1258. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Xu WH, Ouyang ZY, et al. (2014) Determination of priority nature conservation areas and human disturbances in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Journal for nature conservation 326–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y (2009) Plant Resources in Changbai Mountains, China. Beijing: China forestry publishing house Press. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing university of civil engineering and architecture library, Beijing, 100044, China

    Lin Ma

  2. Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Forest College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Lin Ma & Jun-qing Li

  3. Nature conservation College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Gong-qi Sun

  4. National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Heilongjiang Academy of sciences - Institute of Nature and Ecology, Harbin, 150040, China

    Yi Qu

Authors
  1. Lin Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gong-qi Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yi Qu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jun-qing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun-qing Li.

Additional information

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4802-8961

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8928-1817

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4130-8779

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5075-1660

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ma, L., Sun, Gq., Qu, Y. et al. Applying systematic conservation planning to constitute a protection strategy for broad-leaved Korean pine forests in Changbai Mountains, China. J. Mt. Sci. 13, 493–507 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3376-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3376-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation