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Spatial analysis of the driving factors of grassland degradation under conditions of climate change and intensive use in Inner Mongolia, China

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Abstract

In recent years, steppe degradation in North China has become a serious environmental problem. Most research on steppe degradation is conducted at the level of communities or at the scale of small regions. To better understand the spatio-temporal variation and driving factors of grassland degradation, monitoring and analysis at broad regional scales are needed. This paper systematically describes the state and characteristics of steppe degradation at the Xilinhot plateau, makes an in-depth empirical analysis of the natural and man-made causes leading to degradation, and analyzes what driving factors have influenced degradation in this typical steppe region over the last 20 years. Ten biophysical and socio-economic variables, including altitude, slope, precipitation, temperature, soil conditions, distance to river, distance to highway, population density, sheep unit density, and fencing policy, were evaluated on their impact on observed patterns of degradation. The results indicate that all of these factors had a significant influence on the process of steppe degradation. During the first 10 years, from 1991 to 2000, steppe degradation increased, but after 2000, the degradation trend has, to some extent, reversed. The analysis indicates that the measures taken by the government, such as fencing vulnerable areas, played an important role in this change. The results advance the understanding of grassland degradation and contribute to constructing an empirical and theoretical base for grassland management and planning.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Contract No. 31060078), by National Public Welfare Project (Contract No. 200809125), by Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia (Contract No. 200804040MS0514), and by Program of Higher-level Talents of Inner Mongolia University (Contract No. Z20090141).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Huhhot, 010051, China

    Suying Li

  2. College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, 010021, China

    Suying Li

  3. Sino-US Center for Conservation, Energy, and Sustainability Science, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot, 010021, China

    Suying Li & Jingle Wu

  4. Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Suying Li & Peter H. Verburg

  5. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China

    Shihai Lv

  6. School of Life Sciences and Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA

    Jingle Wu

  7. College of Resources Sciences and Technology of Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Xiaobing Li

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  1. Suying Li
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Correspondence to Suying Li.

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Li, S., Verburg, P.H., Lv, S. et al. Spatial analysis of the driving factors of grassland degradation under conditions of climate change and intensive use in Inner Mongolia, China. Reg Environ Change 12, 461–474 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-011-0264-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-011-0264-3

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