Climate washes over human activity in the Yellow River Basin

Climate drives vegetation patterns across the Henan section of China’s Yellow River Basin, research in the International Journal of Environmental Engineering shows. However, expanding agriculture and urbanisation do have a detrimental impact on plant diversity in heavily developed areas, according to the study. The findings are based on satellite observations and ecological modelling of the region.

The researchers analysed vegetation change using satellite images and a model, MaxEnt, that predicts where species are likely to occur. They also used the Community Land Model, which simulates how ecosystems respond to changing climate and land conditions.

The team found that the average vegetation cover, as measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, increased across the region. However, recovery was uneven. Mountainous western areas improved more rapidly than the eastern plains, where cultivation and urban expansion have reduced natural vegetation. They add that climate variables, particularly temperature and rainfall, could explain almost half of the variation in vegetation patterns, but diversity was especially sensitive to autumn temperature fluctuations.

The work also shows a strong negative relationship between the intensity of human activity and plant diversity. Although ecological restoration projects increased shrub and grass richness in some areas, large-scale tree planting sometimes reduced the variety of plants growing beneath the forest canopy.

Overall, the findings might provide a framework for identifying where natural regeneration should be prioritised and where more targeted restoration is needed.

Pei, Y., Zhang, X. and Wang, Y. (2026) ‘Temporal and spatial pattern of vegetation community diversity in Henan section of the Yellow River Basin based on remote sensing and ecological model’, Int. J. Environmental Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp.1–24.

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