Conservation priority for protected areas in Fuzhou, southeast China: An integrated inside-out approach based on ecological network

Addressing the widespread issues of internal fragmentation within protected areas and the neglect of surrounding critical habitat networks, this study aims to develop an assessment framework for the precise identification and remediation of regional conservation gaps. To this end, we introduce the Framework for Conservation Priority Identification (FCPI). The framework integrates Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), Circuit Theory, and the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model to formulate a multidimensional conservation priority index. This index facilitates the identification of critical ecological network components and enables the dynamic prioritization of conservation efforts. A case study of Fuzhou City from 2014 to 2020 reveals that despite an overall improvement in regional environmental quality, the functionality of core ecological sources has markedly declined. Between 2014 and 2020, the number of ecological sources grew by 76.9%, yet their total area shrank by 13.9%. Concurrently, the number of ecological corridors rose from 27 to 53, extending their total length by 380.23 km, which indicates an intensifying trend of habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, a significant number of crucial ecological network nodes, particularly within Minhou County, lie explicitly outside the existing protected area system. This confirms the presence of conservation gaps and unveils the spatiotemporal dynamics of shifting conservation priorities. The research validates that the proposed FCPI can effectively diagnose the dynamic deficiencies within conservation systems. It offers scientific decision-support for local governments, facilitating a transition from isolated conservation efforts towards systematic and comprehensive ecological network governance.