The dynamics of spatial and temporal changes to forested land and key factors driving change on Hainan Island

The ecological functions of natural forests are quite different from the functions of rubber and pulpwood plantations. The change from natural forest to plantations is the main form of human-driven landscape change on Hainan Island. The development of Hainan Island has undergone a series of phases which have included the common environmental stresses caused by the expansion of industry and agriculture. These include the expansion of agricultural cultivation, enlargement of rubber plantations and efforts to develop the landscape in harmony with ecological needs; as well as phases of exploration, experimentation and the implementation of untested land management methods. In the current efforts to develop the land using ecologically sound techniques, the local people and government are paying more attention to various human impacts on ecosystems. Research is very important in these efforts to use ecologically sound construction and development techniques designed to limit human impacts on the natural environment. Therefore, it is necessary to study the key factors and dynamic characteristics of both natural forest and rubber and pulpwood plantations to produce needed social and economic development in an ecological sustainable manner. We analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics and the forces driving landscape scale change during the last two decades. This study is based on the spatial distribution of natural forests as well as rubber and pulpwood plantations along with other types of land use using data from 1988 (when Hainan Province was formally established), 1998 (when the Province was first promoted as an ecological province) and 2008. The results provided four findings. First, from 1988 to 1998 the total area of natural forest on the island increased significantly from 78.37x10 super(2) hm super(2) to 89.14x1O super(4) hm super(2); but, from 1998 to 2008, this figure decreased to 69.11x1O super(4) hm super(2). The area of natural forest initially gained from 1988 to 1998 was more than offset by losses from 1998 to 2008. The land area used for rubber plantations decreased slightly, by 1.9%, during 1988--1998; but the extent of this land use increased rapidly during 1998--2008 (10.19%). The extent of the area used for pulpwood plantations increased steadily. Second, annual dynamic variation rate of three vegetation types was 1.335% from 1998 to 2008, 0.965% from 1988 to 2008 and 0.490% during the years 1988--1998, respectively. Third, from 1988 to 1998,