# Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Regulatory Measures for the Use of Natural Ecological Space Based on the Remote Sensing‐Driven PLUS‐InVEST Model: A Case Study From the Central Mountainous Area of Hainan Island

## TL;DR

This study evaluates how well ecological regulations protect tropical rainforest habitats in Hainan Island using remote sensing and modeling.

## Contribution

The study introduces a remote sensing-driven PLUS-InVEST model to assess and forecast habitat quality under different regulatory scenarios.

## Key findings

- Under natural development, artificial ecosystems increased while natural ones decreased from 2007 to 2021.
- Habitat quality declined by 3.12% between 2007 and 2021.
- Ecological priority regulations improved habitat quality by 0.34% and increased excellent quality habitat by 57.12 km² from 2021 to 2035.

## Abstract

Unreasonable reclamation and construction activities have led to a decline in habitat quality and loss of biodiversity in tropical rainforest areas, especially in key biodiversity regions globally. To evaluate the effectiveness of natural ecological space use regulation measures, in this study, the remote sensing data‐driven PLUS‐InVEST coupled model was used to evaluate and forecast the habitat quality and degree of degradation in the central mountainous region of Hainan Island, a global biodiversity hotspot. By setting natural ecological space use control measures, namely Ecological Conservation Redline, the spatiotemporal variations in land use/land cover and habitat quality were investigated under two regulatory scenarios: natural development (ND) and ecological priority (EP). The study revealed that: (1) Under the natural development (ND) regulatory scenario, from 2007 to 2021, artificial ecosystems such as farmland, water bodies, and construction land showed an increasing trend, while natural ecosystems such as forests, shrubs, and grasslands exhibited a decreasing trend in the study area. (2) Between 2007 and 2021, the habitat quality in the study area exhibited a decreasing trend, with a total reduction of 3.12%. (3) From 2021 to 2035, compared to the natural development (ND) scenario, under the ecological priority (EP) regulatory scenario, influenced by the Ecological Conservation Redline, the area of natural ecosystems in the study area showed an increasing trend, with an overall improvement in habitat quality by 0.34%, an increase in excellent quality habitat area of 57.12 km2, and a significant improvement in habitat quality levels. The research results confirmed the effectiveness of implementing strict natural ecological space use control measures in enhancing ecosystem protection and habitat quality in the central mountainous region of Hainan Island, providing theoretical support for ecosystem conservation and habitat quality improvement in island tropical rainforest areas.

Unreasonable reclamation and construction activities have led to a decline in habitat quality and loss of biodiversity in tropical rainforest areas, especially in key biodiversity regions globally. In this study, the remote sensing data‐driven PLUS‐InVEST coupled model was used to evaluate and forecast the habitat quality and degree of degradation in the central mountainous region of Hainan Island, a global biodiversity hotspot. By setting natural ecological space use control measures, namely ecological protection redlines, the spatiotemporal variations in land use/cover and habitat quality were investigated under two regulatory scenarios: natural development (ND) and ecology priority (EP). The research results confirmed the effectiveness of implementing strict natural ecological space use control measures in enhancing ecosystem protection and habitat quality in the central mountainous region of Hainan Island, providing theoretical support for ecosystem conservation and habitat quality improvement in island tropical rainforest areas.