Function zoning of accreting nature reserve of large estuary district: A case study in the Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve

Due to inapplicability of traditionally static function zoning for the nature reserve in dynamic scenarios, a systematic function zoning framework was constructed for the dynamic scenarios of large estuary district. The multisource data, including remote sensing images, nautical charts and field surveys performed in recent years, were integrated into a habitat geospatial database. Then the framework was built by incorporating remote sensing and GIS techniques. On that basis, the function zoning of the Chongming Dongtan National Natural Reserve was studied by utilizing the eCognition object-oriented image segmentation method and spatial fuzzy assessment model, and obtained the following results:(1) Core zone, buffer zone 1, buffer zone 2, and transition zone accounted for 18.0%, 13.2%, 18.4%, and 50.4% of the total area of the nature reserve, respectively, which is better than previous function zoning both in spatial distribution and ecological sense; (2)The remote sensing images and its derived data make that the ecological environment of the reserve understandable on the macroscale and long-term scale, promote the time-effectiveness and reliability, but decrease the fieldwork intensity to a great extent; (3) The fusion of modern GIS techniques and traditional mathematical models has a good prospect in reserve planning. The results can be employed to provide scientific proofs for the function zoning of the nature reserve in dynamic scenarios.