Study on Ecological Regionalization of Main Afforestation Species in Hubei Province

In order to clarify the distribution patterns of Cunninghamia lanceolata, Populus deltoides, Pinus elliottii and Larix kaempferi in Hubei Province, the software MaxEnt and ArcGIS were used to classify cultivation regions of 4 species in Hubei Province with data of 42 environmental factors including climate, topography and soil and the known distribution information. The results showed that the predicted AUC values of the MaxEnt model for the 4 tree species ranged from 0.855 to 0.951, and the prediction accuracy of the model was improved by 0.23%3–3.59% through the screening of environmental variables. Bioclimatic factors and topographic factors contributed more than 85% to the prediction model construction of the suitable areas of the 4 tree species, which were the main ecological factors affecting the distribution. The contribution rate of altitude was the first in all species, reaching 31.48%–47.80%. The ecological areas of the 4 tree species could be divided into 3 grades: the most suitable region, the more suitable region and the less suitable region. The distribution maps of the suitable land of each tree species were drawn respectively, and the distribution patterns of the 4 main afforestation tree species were clarified. It is suitable to develop C. lanceolata plantation in northwest, southwest and southeast of Hubei. It is suitable to develop P. deltoides in Jianghan Plain area of central Hubei. The hilly areas of north and east Hubei are mainly P. elliottii, and the high mountain areas of west Hubei are suitable for the development of L. kaempferi.