Spatiotemporal Assessment of the Vegetation Dynamics and Underlying Driving Factors in China’s Nanling Region

The Nanling region serves as a critical ecological barrier in South China, playing a vital role in developing and maintaining the region’s distinct ecological characteristics. However, in recent years, ecological degradation has emerged in certain areas. Current research on the changing dynamics of the Nanling ecosystem remains insufficient, particularly regarding the synergistic effects of driving factors on ecological change, hindering effective ecological restoration efforts in the region. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation differentiation and their driving factors in the Nanling region by integrating multi-source remote sensing data from 2011 to 2023 with various relevant statistical methods. The results indicate that the areas with significant vegetation changes in the Nanling region can be divided into five major zones. Most vegetation shows an overall growth trend (89.8%), but there are areas of vegetation degradation (6%) in the eastern and western regions. Mountain vegetation dynamics are regulated by elevation-driven climatic gradients. Human activities play a dominant role in the distribution of vegetation in valley and basin areas, while terrain and soil thickness are important driving factors affecting vegetation. The direct effects of climate and soil properties are relatively minor. Overall, the ecological landscape of the Nanling region is the result of the combined effects of topography, climate, rock properties, soil, and human activities. This study provides a scientific basis for ecological restoration and spatial management in degraded areas of the Nanling region.