Abstract:

Taking the semi-humid and semi-arid Songnen Plain as an example, we utilized the InVEST model to evaluate habitat quality and analyzed the impact of land use change on habitat quality. The results showed that: from 1995 to 2015, the area of cultivated land and unexploited land increased, and the area of other kinds of land decreased in the Songnen Plain. In addition, the grassland, construction land and unexploited land were transferred into other kinds of land dramatically. During the 21 years, cultivated land was the dominant landscape in the Songnen Plain and the fragmentation degree of the landscape increased. The habitat quality index was below 0.6 and the habitat quality in most areas was at the middle and low level, however, the habitat quality of the eastern region in the Songnen Plain was at a good and excellent level, and was better than that of other areas. Countermeasures are put forward as improving the landscape pattern such as cultivated land, unused land and construction land, and synchronizing the economic development with the enhancement of habitat quality.

Key words: InVEST model, habitat quality, land use, landscape index