Ecological sensitivity evaluation of Longfeng Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve based on GIS

Ecological sensitivity assessment plays a crucial role in regional environmental protection and the formulation of functional zoning. Using GIS, an ecological sensitivity assessment was conducted on the Longfeng Wetland. Eight indicators elevation, slope, slope aspect, vegetation cover, water body buffer zone, land use type, road buffer zone, and settlement were selected to construct an ecological sensitivity evaluation system. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and GIS spatial analysis were employed to assess the ecological sensitivity of the study area. The results indicate that the overall ecological sensitivity of the Longfeng Wetland is relatively low, with a predominance of moderately sensitive areas; vegetation cover and water body buffer zones have the greatest influence on ecological sensitivity; non-sensitive, moderately sensitive, and highly sensitive areas account for 39.5%, 46.4%, and 14.1% of the Longfeng Wetland's total area, respectively; highly sensitive areas are concentrated in the northeastern and central parts of the study area, primarily in reed marsh wetlands, with additional concentrations in the southwestern part's bog wetlands. Moderately sensitive areas are distributed around the periphery of highly sensitive areas, while the remaining areas are non-sensitive, primarily located along the edges of the study area. The basic spatial pattern of sensitivity is a gradual decrease from the central water body of the protected area outward. Based on the evaluation results, relevant recommendations for environmental protection and ecological construction are proposed to provide reference for the protection of wetland ecology and the planning of wetland landscapes.