Habitat Quality Assessment and Ecological Risks Prediction: An Analysis in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Suzhou Section)

Urbanization along the Suzhou section of China's historic Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is significantly degrading habitat quality and increasing ecological risks, according to a new study. Researchers found that natural lands with high habitat quality—such as wetlands, forests, and lakes—have declined sharply, while construction areas like roads and buildings have expanded, reflecting broader urban development trends. The study also identified vulnerable zones where narrow buffer areas between land types expose high-quality habitats to pollution and flooding risks, particularly in downstream locations. Using the InVEST suite of open-source models, the research provides a decision-support tool for prioritizing conservation efforts along the canal, with potential applications for ecosystem management worldwide.

Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Zhang, X., Wang, X., Liu, T., Li, Z., Lin, Q., Jing, Z., Wang, X., Huang, Q., Sun, W., Zhai, J., Tan, L., Wang, J., Zhou, G., Tian, Y., Hao, J., Song, Y., & Ma, F. (2022). Habitat Quality Assessment and Ecological Risks Prediction: An Analysis in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Suzhou Section). Water, 14(17), 2602. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14172602