A research team has developed a novel framework to address the growing challenges of ecological security in cold regions, which are particularly vulnerable to the combined impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures.
These areas, critical for both biodiversity and global food security, face increasing threats to their ecosystems and economic stability. To tackle this, the team proposes a groundbreaking connectivity-ecological risk-economic efficiency (CRE) framework, designed to integrate ecological connectivity, climate-specific risks, and economic feasibility into a unified ecological security planning model.
High-latitude cold regions, vital for biodiversity and as agricultural reserves, are especially vulnerable to climate change. Rapid environmental degradation, including soil deterioration and biodiversity loss, poses significant challenges to both ecological and economic security. Ecological security patterns (ESPs) are vital tools in spatial planning, identifying critical ecological nodes and corridors to maintain ecosystem stability. However, traditional methods often overlook economic factors and the dynamic impacts of climate variability, such as seasonal snow cover, which is crucial for species migration in cold climates. Current research into ESPs has largely neglected to integrate multi-dimensional factors—such as economic feasibility and specific climate risks—into the design of ecological networks. This gap limits the practical application of ESP frameworks, especially in ecologically and climatically sensitive regions.
A study (DOI:10.48130/aee-0025-0007) published in Agricultural Ecology and Environment on 13 October 2025 by Liang Guo’s team, Northeast Agricultural University, offers a balanced solution that not only enhances the resilience of cold-region ecosystems but also supports sustainable development, ensuring long-term ecological and economic benefits.
This study explores the optimization of ecological networks using a novel approach that integrates ecosystem services (ESs), ecological risk, and economic efficiency. To achieve this, the researchers applied a CRE framework, which combines multiple methods including circuit theory, morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), and genetic algorithms (GA). The framework was used to analyze the spatial distribution of ESs in 2020 and future scenarios (SSP119-2030, SSP245-2030, SSP545-2030). The results showed that high-value ESs were concentrated in mountainous regions, while lower values were found in central plains. Under future scenarios, regions with ecological prioritization (SSP119) experienced less habitat degradation, while intensive development (SSP245 and SSP545) led to habitat fragmentation and decreased ecological function. By 2030, the core ecological areas expanded significantly under SSP119, from 59.4% in 2020 to 75.4%, while remaining largely unchanged or contracting under the higher-emission scenarios. The study also identified 498 ecological corridors in 2020, optimizing their widths using GA to enhance both ecological benefits and cost-effectiveness. The corridors varied in width based on risk levels, with optimized widths narrowing in the SSP119-2030 scenario, indicating a more efficient network design. Furthermore, the study employed a resistance surface that incorporated both natural and socio-economic factors, revealing the influence of urbanization and agriculture on ecosystem connectivity. The results highlight the importance of maintaining forest integrity and ecological connectivity to preserve ecosystem services and biodiversity, particularly under low-emission development pathways. Overall, the CRE framework offers a comprehensive approach to optimizing ecological networks, ensuring resilience and promoting sustainable development in cold regions vulnerable to climate change and human pressures.
The CRE framework offers a replicable tool for cold-region landscape planning, enabling the construction of climate-resilient ecological networks that integrate ecological, economic, and social dimensions. This framework enhances connectivity in ecologically sensitive regions, ensuring that biodiversity is maintained even under development pressures. By applying the framework in regions like Northeast China, the study provides actionable insights for balancing conservation and development, crucial for sustainable land-use planning.
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References
DOI
10.48130/aee-0025-0007
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.48130/aee-0025-0007
Funding Information
This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2024YFD1501702), the Distinguished Youth Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China (Grant No. JQ2023E001) and Young Leading Talents of Northeast Agricultural University, China (Grant Nos NEAU2023QNLJ-013 and NEAU2024QNLJ-01).
About Agricultural Ecology and Environment
Agricultural Ecology and Environment is a multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on the agroecological environment, focusing on the interactions between agroecosystems and the environment. It is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the complex interactions between agricultural practices and ecological systems. The journal aims to provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders from diverse fields such as agronomy, ecology, environmental science, soil science, and sustainable development.