Evolution characteristics of rocky desertification during 2004-2016 in Guizhou Province,China

The rock desertification is one of the important factors restricting the development of social,economic and ecology in Southwest China. Timely monitoring and evaluation have great scientific significance for the prevention and control of regional rock desertification and the construction of the ecological environment. In this study,the TM image of four periods from 2004 to 2016 were selected for evaluating the dynamic evolution of rocky desertification in the region of Guizhou Province. The results showed: 1) The vegetation coverage Province went up in 78.3% of Guizhou,with an average of 19. 1% to 63. 4%,but bare rock rate decreased in 55. 4% of this region between 2004 and 2006. 2) The spatial distribution of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province presents the characteristics of gradual aggravation from northeast to southwest. The areas of moderate and severe rocky desertification in Bijie City western Guizhou Province still accounted for62.0%-86.4%,while in Qiandongnan eastern Guizhou Province,it was only 18.4%-33.0%. 3) From 2004 to 2016,the situation of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province showed a general trend of continuous improvement. The area nil-rocky desertification increased by 1.1 times,deriving from the transition of light and moderate rocky desertification mainly,The slight rocky desertification increased by around 20. 0%,and the moderate and severe rocky desertification decreased by around 40.0% respectively. 4) By the end of 2016,the areas of nil-rock desertification,light rock desertification,medium and severe rock desertification in Guizhou Province accounted for about 42.0%,24.1%,23.5%,and 10.4% respectively.5) In 2020 and 2024,the rock desertification would continue to be improved in Guizhou Province,and the areas of rock desertification would decrease by 8. 9% and 12. 2% respectively. In the past decade or more,the satuation of rock desertification in Guizhou Province has been basically contained,but there was still a high degree of instability or risk of deterioration in some regions. In the future,with the support of various policies and measures,the situation of rock desertification in Guizhou Province will continue to improve,but the controlling of some severe rocky desertification areas will be more complicated and difficult.