How to achieve ecological control zoning based on ecological security pattern (ESP)? A case study of China’s coastal areas

Rapid urbanization negatively affects the eco-land. The topic of accurate zoning and control of ecological space has become a challenge for many countries. This paper uses the idea of ESP to delineate the control system of China’s coastal area. First, three types of ecological sources were identified from the aspects of landscape functions’ importance, landscape sensitivity, and landscape connectivity. Then, ecological corridors and nodes were identified using the model of minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) based on the resistance surface. Finally, an ecological control zoning system was constructed by using a "bottom-up" transmission mechanism. The results show that: (1) Most of the landscape function-oriented sources and connectivity-oriented sources are located in the south, where habitat quality is superior. Urban construction and agricultural production are the main threat factors to sensitivity-oriented sources. (2) 81.24% of ecological corridors are reticulated, indicating good structural connectivity, and 11 fragile corridors should be specially protected. (3) Among the three second-level of strictly protected areas, the percentage of restoration area and landscape structure maintenance area are 40.19% and 28.47%, indicating the high threat to eco-land and low landscape connectivity; measures are needed to enhance eco-connectivity and increase the resilience of eco-lands. The research constructs a point-line-plane integrated ecological control zoning system, which can provide a scientific basis for the spatial prioritization of coastal ecological protection in China’s coastal areas.