Impacts of urbanisation on river systems and their functions in Yanggong River watershed of Lijiang City

Urbanisation in Lijiang City has significantly reduced the river system length in the Yanggong River watershed, decreasing from 786.9 km in 1995 to 674.2 km in 2009 and projected to further decline by 35.5 km over the next decade. This reduction, driven by urban sprawl, began in the Old Town of Lijiang and spread outward, threatening watershed ecosystem functions. The study used GIS techniques to analyse temporal changes in river systems, revealing that current urban development strategies overlook the impacts on these critical water resources. Protecting the natural river network and leveraging the unique terrain could ensure sustainable urban growth in Lijiang City.

Wang, C., Wang, D., Wang, H., & Dong, R. (2011). Impacts of urbanisation on river systems and their functions in Yanggong River watershed of Lijiang City. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 18(6), 498–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2011.603759