Spatial Zoning and Control Strategies for Tea Plantations from an Ecological Corridor Perspective: A Case Study of Anxi County, Fujian Province, China

The specialised development of the tea industry has driven the continuous expansion of tea plantations in characteristic tea-producing areas of China, resulting in drastic land use changes and ecological degradation, which hinder regional sustainable development. As vital linear landscape elements, ecological corridors play a pivotal role in optimising land use spatial patterns and improving regional ecological quality. Taking Anxi County, Fujian Province, China, as the research area, this study identifies ecological sources by integrating comprehensive ecosystem service (CES) assessment and morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA). The minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model is adopted to construct regional ecological corridors. Based on corridor identification outcomes, this paper explores rational land use planning schemes for the study area. The results indicate that long-term tea plantation expansion has triggered the degradation and shrinkage of ecological sources and corridors, along with reduced ecological connectivity and landscape stability. Targeted land use zoning strategies and ecological corridor restoration and protection measures are proposed, providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for balancing industrial growth, land use optimisation, and ecological conservation in characteristic tea-growing regions.