Ecological impact assessment and classification management methods for high-intensity development island: a case of Haitan Island

This paper proposes the design of an ecological classification management method based on ecological sensitivity and disturbance of road network construction that reflects the characteristics of an island ecosystem using geographical information system and remote sensing technologies. This method evaluates the ecological impacts during the high-intensity development of the island, classifies different ecological management types, and shows the key areas and management strategies for improving the ecological and environmental quality of the island and implementing ecological restoration. The proposed method is applied to Haitan Island, which has been in a period of high-intensity development since 2012. The results show that (1) the ecological sensitivity evaluation method of the island established in this study fully considers the key ecological issues of an island ecosystem. The evaluation results of highly and moderately sensitive areas cover surface water and its conservation area, woodland, and beach, objectively reflecting the relative spatial heterogeneity of ecological sensitivity within Haitan Island. (2) The distribution of high disturbance areas of road network construction is in line with the overall planning pattern of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, which matched with the objectivity reality. The high and moderate disturbance areas of the Haitan Island increased by 6.80 and 27.60  km2, respectively, in the last 10 years, and the no disturbance area decreased by 73.70  km2. The impact on highly ecologically sensitive areas is little, and the key ecological areas are strictly protected in the high-intensity development activities. (3) The areas of ecological protection priority area, ecological restoration priority area, general control zone, and ecological reconstruction area on Haitan Island are 92.74, 9.27, 113.57, and 34.42  km2, respectively. The ecological classification management should be implemented for different areas, and targeted ecological protection and restoration strategies should be adopted, which is conducive to improving the overall ecological environment quality of Haitan Island.