[Objective] The spatial change characteristics and spatial aggregation characteristics of important ecological protection areas in the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration were analyzed in order to provide a basis for delineating “three districts and three lines” and rational planning of territorial space

and to provide a theoretical reference for promoting the coordinated development between high-quality economic development and ecological protection in the Great Lake Basin. [Methods] The study area was the urban agglomeration around Poyang Lake. Land use data for 2000

2010

and 2020 were used with the InVEST model

the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE)

and a GIS spatial analysis method to select types of ecological services (such as water conservation

soil conservation

biodiversity conservation

water purification

soil erosion sensitivity

and water environment sensitivity) to identify the important areas of ecological protection in the study area

and to analyze their spatial variation characteristics. [Results] ① In 2000

2010

and 2020

the areas of important ecological protection in the urban agglomeration around Poyang Lake were 6.34×104

6.35×104

and 6.28×104 km2

respectively. The land use types were dominated by forest land and water areas

showing the distribution characteristics of “high on both sides and low in the middle”. ② At a grid scale of 2 km×2 km

the importance of ecological protection in the urban agglomeration around Poyang Lake was significantly clustered in space

and the high and high clustering areas were mainly located in the eastern and western mountainous areas with fewer anthropogenic activities and good ecological protection. Low and low agglomeration areas were mainly located in the plain area around the Poyang Lake (where human activities are intensive)

and some functions and structures of the ecosystem itself were damaged during economic development. ③ From 2000 to 2020

the changing and stable areas of ecological protection importance were located in the Huaiyu mountain area and the Poyang Lake Plain

and the enhanced areas were located in Fuliang County

Wuyuan County

and the Poyang Lake District; and the weakened areas were located in Yichun City

Pingxiang City

and Yingtan City. [Conclusion] For extremely important and highly important areas

stabilizing forest coverage and improving forest quality is the first task. Secondly

measures should be taken to effectively promote wetland restoration and the construction of nature reserves in order to curb habitat degradation. For medium-important

moderately important

and less important areas

the relationship between high-quality economic development and ecological protection should be properly handled. Especially in areas with intensive human activities

urban green space coverage should be increased

and ecological buffer zones should be established around cities to alleviate the pressure of ecological space survival.