Some themes on eco-regionalization of China
中国生态地域划分的若干问题

With global environmental changes,loss of biodiversity and lack of land resources,the methods of eco regionalization and ecological mapping have drawn considerable attention.Large efforts have been done to explain the ecosystem's response to global environmental changes,to analyze the causes and to provide a science oriented base for exploiting and utilizing of regional resources,conserving biodiversity,and making regional sustainable development strategy.Geographers in China have paid attention to a study of natural regional system and regionalization,and no less than ten versions of physico geographical regionalization of China have ever been prepared since 1954.However,a rounded eco regionalization system for regulating regional ecosystems and formulating sustainable development strategy has not been identified.In an attempt to discern the differences between eco regionalization and physico geographical division,it is important to identify the nature of eco regionalization.Firstly,we indicate that eco regionalization should not bring vegetation but ecosystem in focus and give considerable attention to ecotone and specific underlying surface area such as coastal zone,wetland and interface of monsoon and non monsoon regions.Secondly,eco regionalization should consider isogenesis and interconnection of some ecosystems in spatial pattern.Finally,eco regionalization should incorporate man made ecosystem into hierarchical systems.In this paper,a new hierarchical system of the eco regionalization of China is prepared.The system consists of three categories. Ecological realm,a highest division unit,is classified according to China's ecogeographical differentiation. Ecodivision, a middle unit,is subdivided by ecosystem types and their coupling features,vegetation types and their habitat,and crops and cropping pattern.Ecoregion,a lowest unit,is zoned using topographical features and ecosystem succession under anthropogenic factors.