Evaluate the spatio-temporal changes of vegetation and human activities in China’s Wulingyuan Natural World Heritage Site

A study of Wulingyuan, China's UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals that its vegetation has shown significant improvement over the past 18 years, with a high vegetation index and productivity. The research, utilizing long-term MODIS data, found that 71% of the area exhibited increased vegetation, particularly in buffer zones, while only a small portion in development regions showed decline. Although correlations were observed between vegetation changes and environmental factors like temperature and precipitation, these did not reach statistical significance. The study suggests that policies such as establishing national scenic areas and enhancing woodland protection plans have positively influenced vegetation dynamics, aligning with the World Heritage Convention's sustainable development goals.

Zhang, Y., & Yang, X. (2019). Evaluate the spatio-temporal changes of vegetation and human activities in China’s Wulingyuan Natural World Heritage Site. E3S Web of Conferences, 118, 4015. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201911804015