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Ecological barriers: An approach to ecological conservation and restoration in China

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Abstract

The Chinese government has pursued comprehensive ecological conservation and restoration by establishing an ecological barrier system. However, the majority of international research tends to focus on the connectivity between habitats, overlooking the functions that ecological barriers play in ecological conservation and restoration. The existing literature lacks a systematic exploration of the theory and practice of ecological barriers. This study employed the literature analysis tool CiteSpace to present the theoretical and developmental trends in ecological barriers from various perspectives, including research fields, historical evolution, research hotspots, and major research nations. By analyzing the differences in the understanding of ecological barriers between China and other countries, examining the ecological barriers construction history in China, and exploring the types and functions of ecological barriers, this study summarizes the framework of China’s ecological barriers construction system as “features–functions–problems.” Constructing an ecological barrier system can help achieve ecological conservation and restoration goals in China.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72349002), Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (20190ZKK0405), the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Project (Class A) (XDA2002040201), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CHD (300102352201).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Land Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Xiaoxue Wang, Xiaofeng Wang, Jitao Zhou, Wenjie Yao, You Tu & Zechong Sun

  2. School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Xinrong Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Land Consolidation, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Xiaofeng Wang

  4. Hamden Hall Country Day School, 1108 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT, 06517, USA

    Yuhan Wei

  5. Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Zixu Jia

  6. College of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Jiahao Ma

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  1. Xiaoxue Wang
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Correspondence to Xiaofeng Wang.

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Wang, X., Wang, X., Zhang, X. et al. Ecological barriers: An approach to ecological conservation and restoration in China. Ambio (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-01988-8

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