Spatial planning constraints will mitigate the fragmentation trajectory of natural and semi-natural landscapes: a case of Lushan City, China

Spatial planning constraints significantly mitigate landscape fragmentation in Lushan National Park, China, preserving 15.61 km² of natural landscapes and reducing potential fragmentation areas by 7.74 km². The study used the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to compare two scenarios: one with planning constraints and another without, revealing that constraints prevent urban encroachment on 2.38 km² of cropland, forest, and grassland while shifting fragmentation risks away from sensitive northeastern regions. Despite these benefits, nearly a quarter of forest and grassland remains vulnerable. The research highlights the effectiveness of spatial planning in curbing anthropogenic impacts and offers critical insights for future habitat conservation strategies.

Zhang, Z., He, G., Cai, W., Zhu, Q., Liu, X., Ding, F., & Cai, Y. (2024). Spatial planning constraints will mitigate the fragmentation trajectory of natural and semi-natural landscapes: a case of Lushan City, China. Landscape Ecology, 39(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01857-5