Dynamics of Land Cover Change from 2001 to 2013 in China

Abstract

In order to explore spatial-temporal land cover dynamics in China, we use MODIS data from 2001 to 2013 to statistic the percent of land coverage change and analyze the spatial pattern of land cover change in each natural regions. The results show that: (1) From 2001 to 2013, forest, arable land and water are increasing, and annual growth rates are 1.81%, 0.66% and 0.36% respectively. Shrubs, grassland and unused land are decreasing, and the average annual reduction rates are 2.61%, 0.51% and 0.63%. (2)In A (humid, semi-humid region in Northeast), B (warm temperate humid, semi-humid region in North China) and E (temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia) regions, the major land cover change is from grassland to arable land; in C (subtropical humid region in South and central China) and D (Tropica humid l region in South China) regions, the major land cover change is from grassland to forest; in the F (temperate and warm temperate desert region in Northwest) and G (Tibetan Plateau) regions, the major land cover change is from unused land to grassland. (3) In the Northeast China, arable land area increased; in the Tibetan plateau and northwest arid region, the utilization of unused land area increased; in central and south China, forest increased.