JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1): 227-236.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202204051

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The impact of economic growth on forest fragmentation: a case study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region in China

LUO Yiyi(), LI Lingchao, CHENG Baodong()   

  1. School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083,China
  • Received:2022-04-21 Revised:2022-06-28 Online:2024-01-30 Published:2024-01-24
  • Contact: CHENG Baodong E-mail:luoyiyi0127@bjfu.edu.cn;baodongcheng@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】The degree of forest fragmentation in 38 sample counties in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region was measured through satellite image data from 2000 to 2018. The impact of regional economic growth on forest resources was studied, and its internal impact mechanism was explored. The results provide a reference for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region to further realize a coordinated plan for sustainable development and environmental protection. 【Method】A model of the intermediary effects among economic growth, transportation infrastructure construction, and forest fragmentation was established through forest transformation theory, land use change theory, and growth axis theory, and the model was empirically tested. 【Result】In the relationship between the level of economic growth and degree of forest fragmentation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, every 1% increase in economic growth resulted in a 3% increase in forest fragmentation during the same period. In the relationship between economic growth and transportation infrastructure construction, every 1% increase in economic growth resulted in over 0.1% increase in highway density. In the relationship between traffic infrastructure construction and forest fragmentation, every 1-unit increase in highway density increased the number of forest patches in the region by more than 4. The mechanism test showed that in terms of economic growth affecting forest fragmentation, transportation infrastructure construction had a significant intermediary effect, with an intermediary degree of 23.255%. 【Conclusion】 The rise in economic growth significantly promotes forest fragmentation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. Improvement in economic growth can effectively promote the construction of transportation infrastructure and improve the distribution density of roads. The construction of transportation infrastructure significantly exacerbated regional forest fragmentation during the study period. In the process of economic growth, transport infrastructure construction correlated with an increase in forest fragmentation.

Key words: economic growth, forest fragmentation, transport infrastructure, intermediary effect, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region in China

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