The Temporal and Spatial Variations of Vegetation Coverage in Hubei Province During the Period from 2001 to 2020

Based on MOD13Q1 data, the vegetation coverage in Hubei province from 2001 to 2020 was computed by employing the pixel dichotomy model. On a global scale, in combination with geomorphic characteristics and ecological functional patterns, the province was partitioned into six regions: Qinling-daba Mountains, Wuling Mountains, Dabie Mountains, Mufu Mountains, North Hillock and Jianghan Plain. Utilizing methodologies such as Sen + Mann–Kendall analysis, R/S analysis, and the Hurst index facilitated an investigation into the spatiotemporal changes in vegetation coverage across Hubei province and its six regions over the past two decades. The results showed that: From 2001 to 2020, the trend of vegetation coverage in Hubei province and six other regions, remained largely stable. In 2010, as a result of the influence of extreme weather conditions, the vegetation coverage throughout the province has declined to its lowest level in two decades. The spatial distribution of vegetation coverage throughout Hubei province displayed a pattern characterized by higher values in western areas compared to eastern ones; specifically high levels were found at margins while lower levels were concentrated centrally. The Qinling-daba Mountains and Wuling Mountains exhibited exceptionally high vegetation coverage; although all four remaining regions also showed relatively high values—there remained a considerable disparity between Jianghan Plain's coverage compared to that of other five regions. Overall spatial positive correlation was evident across all of the province’s vegetative coverage with local spatial autocorrelation primarily manifesting as "high-high aggregation" alongside "low-low aggregation"． Over the past two decades, the area of vegetation improvement in Hubei province constituted 10.47%, while the area experiencing degradation accounted for 8.67%. Notably, 80.88% of the region exhibited minimal change in vegetation coverage. The overall patterns of vegetation coverage across various regions were consistent with those observed at the provincial level; however, the Qinling-Daba Mountains demonstrated the highest proportion of vegetation improvement, comprising 14.97% of that region's total area. Conversely, the Jianghan Plain recorded the largest share of vegetation degradation, representing 18.09% within its boundaries． Looking ahead, it is anticipated that vegetation coverage in Hubei province and six regions will remain relatively stable, without significant sustained increases or decreases on a large scale.