Ecological quality of a global geopark at different stages of its development: Evidence from Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark, China

Wulin Jiang; Chunmei Wang; Na Liu; Xinguang He; Qingzi Ye; Yunyuan Deng; Jun Zou

Global Ecology and Conservation (Oct 2023)

Ecological quality of a global geopark at different stages of its development: Evidence from Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark, China

Wulin Jiang,
Chunmei Wang,
Na Liu,
Xinguang He,
Qingzi Ye,
Yunyuan Deng,
Jun Zou

Affiliations

Wulin Jiang: Hunan National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory on Digital Preservation and Innovative Technologies for the Culture of Traditional Villages and Towns, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; Cooperative Innovation Center for Digitalization of Cultural Heritage in Traditional Villages and Towns, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; College of Geography and Tourism, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the Auspices of UNESCO, Hengyang Base, Hengyang 421002, China
Chunmei Wang: College of Geography and Tourism, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
Na Liu: College of Geography and Tourism, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; Corresponding author.
Xinguang He: School of Geography Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Qingzi Ye: Geopark Administration Office of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Jishou 416707, China
Yunyuan Deng: Hunan National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory on Digital Preservation and Innovative Technologies for the Culture of Traditional Villages and Towns, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; College of Geography and Tourism, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China
Jun Zou: Hunan National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory on Digital Preservation and Innovative Technologies for the Culture of Traditional Villages and Towns, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China; College of Geography and Tourism, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 46
p. e02617

Abstract

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Geoparks are home to unique and precious geological sites and have a rich historical and cultural heritage. Most studies have focused on their tourism value and/or educational significance. However, far too little attention has been paid to the impact of geopark construction on the local ecological environment. The Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark (XXGG) was used as a case study to explore the impact of global geopark construction on local ecological quality. Three ecological indices, including an ecological quality index based on productive, residential, and ecological land use, an improved remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI-2), and net primary productivity (NPP), were adopted to evaluate the ecological quality of XXGG during two periods: before construction (from 2015 to 2017) and during construction of XXGG (from 2018 to 2020). The results show that: (1) in general, all ecological quality indicators showed a downtrend (from 2015 to 2017) followed by an uptrend (from 2018 to 2020), indicating that construction and development of XXGG has had a significant positive effect on local ecological quality. This occurred because a series of environmental protection measures were taken after application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geoparks (UGGPs) for membership at the end of 2017. (2) The areas of XXGG with excellent and improved ecological quality are mainly distributed in the northern and southeastern portions, which are located in the protected area with high coverage rates of forest and other vegetation. Poor ecological quality in the east and south is closely related with human activities, such as ethnic tourism development. The results explore the relationship between regional construction of the geopark and ecological effects and provide a scientific reference for sustainable development of global geoparks.

Published in Global Ecology and Conservation

ISSN: 2351-9894 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/global-ecology-and-conservation/

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