Assessment of wetland ecological health in Honghe from 1975 to 2006

Wetland is a particular ecosystem between land and sea. It is one of the most important environmental capitals all over the world. In this paper, theories of wetland ecosystem health and “Pressure-State-Response” model are used as the basic principle. Series of wetland ecosystem health indices are structured. According to the characters of study area, RS images in 1975, 1989 and 2006 are selected as the main data resources, social-economic statistical data and landscape pattern indices as referenced data. Honghe National Natural Reserve (HNNR) and three farms around are the sub-units to assess the environmental changes for 30 years under the intense human activities. The results show: the health condition in HNNR declined to small extent, which sustains the health condition. However, under the large-scale and intense human disturbance, health condition of three farms around declined sharply. The results may provide scientific bases for both production and management of wetland by disclosing the spatial distributing rules and analyzing the impact on environment brought because of reclaiming.