Dynamic characteristics of forest landscape in Chengdu City in last 20 years.
成都市近20年林地景观变化特征

Based on the remote sensing data of Landsat TM (1985, 1995, and 2000) and CBERS (2006), and by using landscape pattern method and index model of regional land use change in combining with eco-function regionalization, this paper analyzed the dynamic characteristics of forest landscape in Chengdu City in 1985-2006. In the study period, over 17000 hm2 of forest land lost, and the number and area of small- and medium-size patches changed significantly, indicating the apparent conversion and fragmentation of forest land. Forest land was mainly distributed in mountainous area, accounting for 70% of the total. In contrast, more number of patches was found in plain region, amounting to 70% of the total. The most rapid change of forest land area occurred in 1985-1995, especially in mountainous region. The relative change rate of forest land area in different eco-function regions also varied in different periods. Forest land, converted to or converted from, was mainly related to cropland and grassland. In 2000-2006, forest land was quite stable. Survival-oriented economic welfare, environmental security, and fast urbanization process were the main driving forces of the temporal dynamic change of forest landscape, whereas geographical division and socio-economic layout were the main constraints to the spatial dynamic change of forest landscape.