Ecological red-line delineation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area

Background/Question/Methods: Synergetic development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area was proposed as a significant national strategy earlier this year. This strategy emphasized scientific and sustainable development of this area, which called for more attention on the environment protection and ecological restoration. Although Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area has made efforts on air pollution prevention, water pollution control, inter-basin ecological compensation and ecological conservation projects, environmental issue is still one of the major challenges for the synergetic development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area. Delineating ecological red-line based on environmental function zoning is a fundamental guarantee for the promotion of ecological function, the improvement of environmental situation as well as the sustainable use of resources. This study made ecological significance and sensitivity assessment of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area using GIS (geographic information system) method, and integrated with relative plans and zoning to divide the ecological red-line.

Results/Conclusions: The red-line accounted for 23.4% of the total area. The red-line area with the most significant ecological function, located in the area which is vital to water and soil conservation, wind prevention and sand fixation, flood detention as well as the prohibited areas such as natural reserves, scenic spots, forest parks, geological parks, water protected areas, accounted for 8.7% of the total area. It’s important to strengthen the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystem. The red-line area with the most sensitive ecological environment, distributed in the area with the highest sensitivity of water and soil loss as well as land desertification, accounted for 11.7% of the whole area. This area should highlighted forest protection and small watershed management. The red-line area with the most vulnerable ecological environment accounted for 2.9% of the total area and was mainly located in dam area of the northwest in Hebei. This area calls for measurements to control sandstorms sources. Overall, our study have deepened and embodied major function oriented zoning in the environmental field and can provide a reference for the sustainable synergetic development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area.