Rapid urbanization, coupled with frequent land-use shifts, has emerged as a primary driver of ecological degradation in the Anthropocene. This study dissects the intricate interplay between land-use and land-cover change (LULC) and ecological environment quality within Hubei Province, a region undergoing rapid transformation, employing a multi-faceted approach that combines remote sensing with advanced statistical modelling. Our analysis reveals that: (1) From 1995 to 2025, Hubei’s land-use trajectory was marked by a dramatic surge in construction land, characterized by an early phase of rapid change transitioning to relative stabilization, while the comprehensive index of land-use intensity paradoxically decreased across prefecture-level cities amidst rapid urbanization; (2) despite a seemingly positive trend of overall ecological environment improvement across the province over three decades, a significant divergence exists between areas of ecological recovery and degradation, highlighting spatial heterogeneity in these responses; (3) Anthropogenic activities are unequivocally identified as the primary drivers of ecological change, exhibiting distinct spatial variability. This trend is projected to result in urban expansion, a marginal decrease in farmland, strengthened protection of forests and wetlands, and an increase in transportation infrastructure across Hubei by 2035. These findings suggest that judicious adjustments to the land-use mosaic offer a pathway to maintaining, or even enhancing, regional ecological integrity, underscoring the urgency for integrated planning and management strategies that balance rapid development with the long-term well-being of the socio-ecological system.
EMER et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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