Research on China's National Ecological Security Pattern Planning
Ministry of Environmental Protection (Public Welfare Industry Research Project), March 2007 - March 2008
Introduction: Enormous population pressure, limited resources, and fragile ecosystems, compounded by rapid urbanization and economic development, pose severe challenges to China's sustainable development and survival. To address these challenges, scientific land use planning is essential to establish a national ecological security framework, providing spatial zoning guidelines for both conservation and development. This research identifies China's ecological security issues and their root causes, advocating respect for natural processes. It proposes that the safety and health of the land's life systems should be a prerequisite for development and construction, preventing ecosystem damage caused by neglecting natural and biological processes. The national ecological security framework integrates multiple ecological functions—such as water conservation and flood/drought regulation—into a critical networked spatial pattern, forming the foundational natural system for national and urban survival and development. Based on landscape ecology principles and landscape security framework theory, this study constructs a comprehensive national ecological security framework addressing key ecological processes and issues. This framework serves not only as a rigid constraint on development but also incorporates cultural heritage and recreational functions while providing essential ecological services. Conducting research and planning at the national level holds profound significance for maintaining the integrity and health of national ecological processes and promoting regional sustainable development. It can establish a dialogue platform for cross-departmental and multi-level government collaboration, demonstrate and drive ecological security patterns and ecological infrastructure planning at provincial and county scales, advance the implementation of ecological protection strategies, and bridge ecological theory with urban planning practice.
