China — Most forests are edge habitat now, and human-made edges reach deeper
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
By 2023, nearly 88% of China’s forests were within one kilometre of an edge and about 95% of edges adjoined anthropogenic land uses. Human-created edges had stronger effects on productivity and temporal stability, with stability declines extending roughly 210 metres inward.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Fragmentation metrics based only on patch area or edge length miss the ecological depth of human-adjacent edge effects. Infrastructure, agriculture and development can alter the functioning of nominally retained forest well inside mapped boundaries.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Remote-sensing indicators of productivity and stability do not capture all biodiversity responses, and edge depth varies with climate, canopy structure and adjacent land use.
SOURCE
Communications Earth & Environment · Original evidence
View original evidence ↗
Nearly 88% of China’s forest area lies within one kilometre of an edge, with anthropogenic edges producing stronger effects on productivity and stability.
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