ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Distribution and Protection of Chinese Beech
under the Background of Climate Change
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1
School of Economics, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
2
Engineering Research Center for Forest and Grassland Disaster Prevention and Reduction,
Mianyang normal university, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621000, China
3
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China
Submission date: 2021-07-15
Final revision date: 2021-10-30
Acceptance date: 2021-11-11
Online publication date: 2022-02-24
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Corresponding author
Jinyao Hu
Engineering Research Center for Forest and Grassland Disaster Prevention and Reduction, Mianyang normal university, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(3):2341-2354
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ABSTRACT
The biodiversity crisis caused by global warming is becoming more and more serious. Thus,
many species are facing the crisis of survival, and some species are even on the verge of extinction.
To scientifically evaluate the impact of global warming on the distribution, management and
protection of Chinese Beech, the habitat suitability of 7 Chinese Beech species was simulated based
on 853 literature distribution sites and 11 environmental factors under the current, 2070 RCP2.6
and 2070 RCP8.5 climate conditions and evaluated using ArcGIS 10.2 technology and the MaxEnt
model. The results showed that (1) three environmental factors, namely, Precipitation of the Driest
Quarter, Minimum Temperature of the Coldest Month and Mean Diurnal Range, were the key
factors that influencing the distribution of Chinese Beech; (2) the total current area of suitable habitat
of Chinese Beech was about 78615.60 km2, and only about 9527.36 km2 was located in protected
areas (12.12%); (3) with the continuous warming of the climate, the suitable habitat of Chinese Beech
could lose up to 59.24%, and the protected area would be decreasing continuously. Under the best
and the most extreme climate scenarios for 2070, the suitable habitat area of Chinese Beech was reduced
by 33386.90 km2 and 46573.50 km2, respectively, and the protected area decreased by 2,362.22 km2
and 5,056.40 km2, respectively. (4) The highly suitable habitat was projected to move the northwest and
high altitude areas. Consequently, the protection of Chinese Beech is urgently required.