Long-term observations of atmospheric mercury concentrations and statistical methods based on observations are important tools for quantifying the impacts of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on the global atmospheric mercury pool. Jiuzhaigou is located in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, at an altitude of 2000-3500 m in the subalpine zone. Investigating the dynamics of atmospheric mercury in Jiuzhaigou can provide a basis for in-depth analysis of mercury transport characteristics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and global cycling processes. In this study, continuous monitoring of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in Jiuzhaigou was conducted for two years from 2021 to 2023 using a high time-resolution automatic mercury analyzer. The results showed that the average concentration of GEM in Jiuzhaigou was 1.25 +/- 0.41 ng/m3, at the global background concentration of atmospheric mercury. However, the GEM concentration in Jiuzhaigou exhibited significant temporal variations, with higher concentrations in winter and lower concentrations in summer, and a daily variation pattern of higher concentrations at night and lower concentrations during the day. The effects of meteorological factors on GEM concentration were quantified using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs), indicating that relative humidity had a significant impact on GEM, and the inter-annual differences in GEM may also be influenced by atmospheric pressure and wind speed. The Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) model based on backward trajectories analyzed the variations of potential source areas of GEM in the atmosphere in Jiuzhaigou during spring and winter, while local air masses near the boundary layer height dominated the input in summer and autumn.

In order to clarify the influence of particle gradation difference caused by the self-organizing coarsening process of colluvial-deluvial soil on the rapid loss of effective water and insufficient structural stability faced by slope ecological restoration. Taking Jiuzhaigou Panda-Sea accumulation as the research area, the ecological water effectiveness and water migration law of colluvial-deluvial soil were analyzed through soil property tests, water stress tests and water and heat migration monitoring experiments, and the layered reconstruction and improvement were carried out in combination with ecological materials. The results showed that the classification of photosynthetic productivity can more accurately evaluate the ecological water effectiveness of colluvial-deluvial soil. The layered reconstruction model of "Capillary Barrier-Vegetation Growth-Surface Crusts" of colluvial-deluvial soil was established, and the evaporation reduction performance and shear strength of crust were improved by adding modified glutinous rice-based materials. Moreover, the effective water evaporation of the reconstructed improved soil only accounts for 12.51

Conserving the restored, yet fragile, World Nature Heritage Sites has become increasingly important in the aftermath of unforeseen disasters. Sociocultural barriers often pose greater challenges to natural protection than biophysical-technical obstacles do. This research comprised four studies. The first interviewed stakeholders ( N = 25) to investigate key factors in protecting restored natural wonders. The second ( N = 412) and third ( N = 275) explored how tourists’ sense of awe mediates the relationship between perceived authenticity and environmentally responsible behavior intention in two scenarios. The fourth was a field quasi-experiment ( N = 501), examining how the timing and framing of information provided to tourists serve to mitigate the potential broken window effect in sites under restoration and encourage more responsible behaviors. This research elucidates the vital role of awe in shaping tourist experiences at restored natural sites and introduces time perspectives and framing strategies to help site managers safeguard natural heritage sites effectively.

Natural disasters increasingly threaten world heritage sites, yet research on their impact on aesthetic and natural heritage values is limited, particularly regarding post-disaster restoration interventions. Following the 2017 earthquake that severely damaged Sparkling Lake in Jiuzhaigou, this study employs questionnaires and eye-tracking experiments to assess landscape aesthetic preferences and heritage value at various recovery stages. Findings indicate that the earthquake significantly reduced both aesthetic preferences and heritage value; however, late-stage restoration efforts led to a notable increase in aesthetic appreciation, surpassing pre-earthquake levels, while heritage value remained comparable to earlier conditions. Aesthetic preferences correlate positively with heritage value, emphasizing the importance of natural beauty, geomorphic features, natural habitat conservation, and landscape integrity during restoration. Visual attraction elements, such as water and vegetation, remained consistent pre- and post-restoration, though artificial elements, such as boardwalks, also drew attention. This study offers essential insights for landscape design and heritage management in post-disaster contexts.

Rubble deposits with a high concentration of rock debris were created after the powerful earthquakes in Jiuzhaigou.Because of the restricted soil resources,water leaks,and nutrient deficits,these deposits pose serious obstacles for vegetation regeneration.The purpose of this study was to investigate the main mechanisms controlling soil water retention and evaluate the effects of different amendments on the hydraulic characteristics and water-holding capacity of collapsed rubble soils.Fine-grained soil,forest humus,crushed straw,and organic components that retain water were added to the altered soils to study the pore structure images and soil-water characteristic curves.Comparing understory humus to other supplements,the results showed a considerable increase in the soil's saturated and wilting water content.The saturated water content and wilting water content rose by 17.9％and 4.3％,respectively,when the percentage of understory soil reached 30％.Additionally,the enhanced soil's microporosity and total pore volume increased by 45.33％and 11.27％,respectively,according to nuclear magnetic imaging.It was shown that while clay particles and organic matter improved the soil's ability to adsorb water,they also increased the soil's total capacity to store water.Fine particulate matter did this by decreasing macropores and increasing capillary pores.These results offer an essential starting point for creating strategies for soil repair that would encourage the restoration of plants on slopes that have been damaged.

Landscape aesthetic quality (LAQ) is a vital cultural ecosystem service in global forests, particularly in the subalpine forests across the Tibetan Plateau, which are considered popular tourist destinations due to their unique cultural services. However, the explicit spatial localization and spatial–temporal dynamics of LAQ in subalpine forests in the Tibetan Plateau remain largely unexplored. Herein, we introduced a method for assessing LAQ that integrates the species’ biophysical attributes with spatial landscape characteristics, allowing for a spatially explicit quantification of LAQ. We further employ this approach to project changes in LAQ under forest landscape dynamics (2016–2096) in Jiuzhaigou, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Most regions exhibited moderate or low LAQ, with high values ible, while over half of low-LAQ regions were not. The high-value zone of LAQ is projected to rise slightly by 2056 but decline sharply by 2096. These results reveal strong spatial heterogeneity in LAQ and indicate that future landscape dynamics will substantially reshape its distribution in the subalpine forests of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Our findings provide early evidence of declining cultural ecosystem quality in subalpine forests and offer guidance for adaptive management in similar mountain ecosystems worldwide.

Understanding the ecological effects of strong earthquakes and post-seismic vegetation dynamics in mountainous areas is essential for mitigating post-earthquake disasters. Here, a detailed palynological and radiocarbon-dating study was carried out on the tufa sediments from Huohuahai Lake, Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, China. Rapid transitions in palynological assemblages, from high contents of shrubs and herbs to Quercus, Betula and Pinus tree pollen, have repeatedly occurred over the past similar to 1650 years. These short-term variations, combined with historical seismic records, probably record post-seismic (open forest) and inter-seismic (mixed forest) periods. Strong earthquakes caused damage to forests and induced hydrological changes, resulting in low pollen concentrations and increases in shrubs and herbs after such events. Subsequently, mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest gradually developed during inter-seismic periods. A particularly large earthquake occurred in similar to 520 CE near Jiuzhaigou, and the vegetation recovery time from this was up to similar to 214 years; this recovery time could also have been influenced by the sudden cooling and gradual drying climate and/or a previous strong earthquake. Our findings confirm the high seismic risk in the Min Shan uplift zone and the important driving force of tectonic activity on forest succession in mountainous areas.

In order to explore the effect of nitrogen deposition on physiological response of mosses in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province, the local dominant mosses Actinothuidium hookeri and Hylocomium splendens were taken as the research objects, and NH4NO3 was used as the nitrogen source. Nitrogen deposition treatments were applied with control (0 kg N·hm-2·a-1), low (20 kg N·hm-2·a-1) and high (50 kg N·hm-2·a-1). The experiment lasted six months. The results were as follows: (1) The contents of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, chlorophyll, proline and soluble protein were significantly increased by application of NH4NO3 solution. At the same time, the activities of its catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly increased when Actinothuidium hookeri was subjected to nitrogen deposition. (2) During the vigorous and late periods, the activities of its catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly decreased when Hylocomium splendens was subjected to similar nitrogen deposition. (3) During the experiment, subordinate function value of Actinothuidium hookeri significantly increased with increase of NH4NO3 solution concentration. Response pattern of subordinate function value was different when Hylocomium splendens was subjected to different concentrations of NH4NO3 solution in the vigorous and late growth periods. In conclusion, physiological responses are different between two mosses subjected to nitrogen deposition. High concentration of nitrogen deposition can promote the growth of Actinothuidium hookeri. Hylocomium splendens can grow normally under the natural nitrogen deposition conditions and can withstand a certain degree of nitrogen deposition, but when the nitrogen deposition is too high, it will cause damage to it, the metabolism decreases and its growth is inhibited. Long-term nitrogen deposition may lead to future change of moss community composition in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province.

The pre-phase landslides will have a legacy effect on future landslides, changing the landslide susceptibility. This study attempts to establish a reasonable post-seismic landslide susceptibility model and analyze the spatio-temporal characteristics of landslide susceptibility in the Jiuzhaigou MS7.0 earthquake-struck region. Firstly, an integrated ‘space-ground’ monitoring technology is used to establish a multi-temporal post-seismic landslide dataset. Then, the buffer analysis method documents the spatio-temporal characteristics of post-seismic landslides. Thirdly, the distance is selected as an indicator to quantify the legacy effect. An improved time-variant model is established to evaluate the post-seismic landslide susceptibility. Finally, the spatio-temporal characteristics of landslide susceptibility are generalized, to sum up the changing law. Our results show that the post-seismic landslides are gradually closer to the pre-phase landslides with time. Distance is a critical factor in measuring the impact of pre-phase landslides on future landslides, which can improve the assessment accuracy of the post-seismic landslide susceptibility model. After a large seismic event, the correlation between landslide susceptibility and earthquakes gradually weakens. Post-seismic landslide prevention should focus on the pre-phase landslide expansion triggered by rainfall. Moreover, it should clean up the landslide deposits in time and reasonably dredge the debris flows to avoid secondary geological disasters.

Background The rock cut slope (RCS) could cause damage to regional ecological functions and landscapes and requires recovery. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are pioneer and dominant colonizers during the initial recovery stage. To accelerate the natural recovery of RCS, the development process and influencing agents of BSC should be revealed. Thus, the area index of crevices ( I R ), BSC coverage (COV) and biomass (BM), soil weight (SW), and major soil nutrients [organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP)] content, collected from 164 quadrats on 13 RCSs in the mountainous area of west Sichuan Province, China, were measured, to explore the effect of crevice of RCS on BSC development. Results Soil OC, TN and TP on RCSs ranged from 18.61 to 123.03 g kg −1 , 0.96 to 6.02 g kg −1 and 0.52 to 2.46 g kg −1 , respectively, and were approximately to or higher than those on natural slopes. The OC, TN and TP contents in soils elevated unsystematically with recovery time of RCSs. BSCs on RCS distributed along crevices generally and firstly. During the first 13 years of natural recovery, COV, BM and SW ranged from 6.5 to 28.2%, 14.43 to 67.25 g m −2 , and 127.69 to 1277.74 g m −2 , respectively. COV, BM and SW increased linearly with I R on RCSs. The positive correlation between COV and BM and I R was insignificantly impacted by bedrock, slope aspect and altitude within the recovery time less than 13 years. COV and BM on RCSs increased significantly when the recovery time is more than 27 years. Conclusions Crevice on RCSs could be a major environmental factor which is conducive to BSC development and soil accumulation through creating a space for water and soil particle. Furthermore, with the increase of recovery time of RCSs, BSCs may grow and reach a stable state with the promotion of soil nutrients, plant growth and microbial activity. These results provide a development process of BSC that from inside to outside the crevices on RCSs. In the areas with stable rock strata and a low risk of geological disasters, purposeful improvement in crevice density on RCS may effectively accelerate BSC development.

Ecological restoration has great significance on cut rock slopes, which are considered extremely degraded habitats. The development of moss–soil crusts on cut rock slopes as a critical pathway to ecological restoration in mountain areas has been poorly reported. A total of 335 quadrats were selected on cut rock slopes with formation ages between 0 and 60 years to evaluate the evolution characteristics of moss–soil crusts under various geographical conditions (e.g., aspect, lithology, and altitude) in the mountainous area of western Sichuan, Southwest China. The results suggested that moss growth decoupled from soil accumulation within the crusts and was controlled by multiple factors. Moss growth depended on lithology, altitude, and age, while soil weight was mainly influenced by slope aspect. The development of mosses on limestone was better than on sandstone. Moss biomass varied with altitude, consistent with that of rainfall with respect to moss development dependent on moisture. Furthermore, moss development under a semiarid climate was more distinctly impacted by moisture with altitude relative to a humid region, likely owing to the higher sensitivity of the mosses to moisture in the former than in the latter. Moss biomass increased with recovery time, while the rate of moss biomass development was diverse in different geographical areas. The vegetation developed rapidly in low-altitude areas (~1000 m above sea level), resulting in moss biomass increasing from 0 to 24.08 g·m−2 with formation time increasing from 0.5 to 1.5 years and subsequently being restricted by the evolution of higher plants on cut rock slopes, leading to an insignificant difference in moss biomass between 1.5 and 60 years. In high-altitude areas, when the altitude changed slightly (from 2024 to 2430 m above sea level), the moss biomass on cut rock slopes increased linearly with increasing age from 5 to 27 years. Influenced by the surrounding fertile soils and moss bioaccumulation, there were high levels of soil major nutrient content, especially the organic matter content, which reached 377.42 g·kg−1. More soils accumulated on south-facing slopes than on north-facing slopes. This study provided field data to clearly reveal the influence of geographic factors on moss–soil crust development in natural restoration processes in high-altitude mountainous areas.

Reliable quantitative information regarding sediment sources is essential for target mitigation, particularly in settings with a large number of loose provenances caused by earth disasters. The lakes in the Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Site (WNHS) are facing serious environmental problems of silting and swamping, which threaten the sustainability of the area, especially after the earthquake on 8 August 2017 (the “8.8 earthquake”). Therefore, a field investigation was conducted after the “8.8 earthquake” (June 2020), and the Arrow Bamboo and Rhino Lakes, which were affected by the earthquakes to different degrees, were selected as the research objects. Based on the data of 27 environmental indicators from 31 surface sediment and soil samples in and around the lakes, the spatial distribution characteristics of the lake sediment sources were quantified using composite fingerprint recognition technology. Furthermore, a high protection standard of a WHNS and a process treatment scheme for reducing the siltation of the Jiuzhaigou lakes were proposed. The results showed that the contribution ratio of loose matter sources entering the lake on the road-side of the Arrow Bamboo and Rhino Lakes (16.5% and 21.8%, respectively) was lower than that on the forest-side (83.5% and 78.2%, respectively), indicating that physical barriers such as roads can effectively reduce the sediment input, while the lake forest side contributes a large number of loose matter sources, which has not attracted attention in the past and requires protection. High protection standards for the Jiuzhaigou WHNS are suggested. Accordingly, the entire control scheme of Jiuzhaigou lake sediment reduction including “monitoring–control–interception–buffer–cleaning” is provided. Source erosion monitoring is the first step in blocking the sediment source. Vegetation restoration and surface coverage should be conducted in areas where water and soil losses have occurred. Necessary engineering measures should be implemented to intercept loose material sources at points where geological disasters occur frequently. A buffer zone should be established between the lake and the mountain to intercept the sediment. Sediment caused by geological disasters with low interference must also be cleaned from the lake. The level of nutrients in the lake must be controlled by the regular cleaning of plant debris from the lake and lakeside.

Over the past century, lake degradation has increased around the world. Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Site in southwestern China has been experiencing water nutrient enrichment, accelerated swamping, and algal biomass increases. These problems are likely associated with enhanced local anthropogenic activities over the past decades. In this study, radioactivities of 137Cs and 210Pb, diatoms, and nutrient accumulation rates in a lake sediment core from Tiger Lake in Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Site were used as proxies to reconstruct a > 100-year record of environmental change to understand the extent and temporal variability of anthropogenic effects on lake water nutrients. Diatom communities reveal four distinct phases, relating to documented local human activities including (a) Primitive agriculture from 1871 to the mid-1930s, (b) Opium cultivation—logging from the mid-1930s to the mid-1970s, (c) Large-scale logging—the beginning of tourism from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, and (d) Tourism development from the early 1990s to 2013. Nutrients in the lake (including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus) steadily increased from 1871 until the late 1990s, declined from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, and increased rapidly after the mid-2000s. Our data suggest that (a) Opium cultivation, deforestation, and tourism development led to the increase of lake nutrients and primary productivity, (b) Ecological protection measures taken from 1999 to 2004 effectively controlled water pollution, and (c) Post-2005 intensification of tourism further accelerated water quality deterioration. Additional monitoring and mitigation strategies are needed to further reduce nutrient input. Global studies suggest that while water quality of lakes in protected area is better than that of other lakes, care is still required to ensure that tourism activities do not inadvertently increase lake water nutrients.

九寨沟钙华是距今约3万年(特别是1万年)以来逐渐形成的.大规模的钙华沉积是湖泊、滩流、瀑布、泉及台地景观形成的基础,覆盖核心景区2.4km2的面积.钙华景观是九寨沟遗产地突出普遍价值——"自然美学价值"的核心,是景区的关键吸引力.为九寨沟的持续保护和为未来研究提供支持,本文从钙华沉积物、钙华景观成因、钙华景观变化及其原因、钙华景观保护恢复的角度,总结了公开和未公开发表的研究结果.针对目前钙华景观保护面临的主要问题(钙华退化、藻类生物量增加、沼泽化),本文归纳了相关的自然与人为因素,包括气候变暖、大气沉降、水化学变化、旅游活动、森林采伐、地质灾害等;归纳了地震和滑坡等地质灾害对钙华景观形成与重塑的双重作用;总结了钙华景观保护恢复的管理工作及其成效.本文提出未来可重点研究:(1)气候变化和人为活动背景下多圈层(大气、陆地生态系统、水生生态系统和基岩系统)对水体氮、磷、溶解性有机物、绿藻生物量、钙华沉积与溶蚀的影响机制及程度;(2)2017年九寨沟7.0级地震后,自然与人为干预下钙华微地貌的长期稳定性,水土流失加剧对湖泊透明度、钙华、沼泽化及美学价值的长期影响,地质灾害及其防治对钙华景观的长期效应.

Tufa is a porous freshwater deposit comprising primarily calcite (CaCO3) and organic matter. Massive tufa depositions can spread for up to several kilometers, forming tufa landscapes that have been recognized as national parks and World Heritage Sites. Previous studies have suggested that enhanced soil erosion owing to human activities (e.g., deforestation and agriculture) is one of the major causes of fluvial tufa decline in many places worldwide. In 2017, an Ms 7.0 earthquake occurred in Jiuzhaigou, which greatly increased soil erosion in the catchment. We compared the water chemistry and tufa deposition before and after the earthquake to understand the impact of soil erosion on tufa landscapes in Jiuzhaigou. After the earthquake, we found that high turbidity greatly reduced the aesthetic value of the lakes. Enhanced soil erosion increased NO3-, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and PO43- concentrations in surface water, which may worsen the problems of increased algal biomass and marsh development. Enhanced soil erosion reduced alkalinity, HCO3-, and the saturation index of calcite (SIc), thereby decreasing the potential to generate new calcite. Enhanced soil erosion may also increase the annual tufa deposition rates by increasing the soil and organic materials in the sediment. In addition, the tufa sediment affected by enhanced soil erosion was loose, highly porous, and contained numerous diatoms. This study provides observational data to explain the impact mechanisms of soil erosion on tufa landscapes and assess the necessity and achievements of artificial soil erosion control.

Water resources are the key link within the unique landscape of the Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Site. However, the earthquake on 8 August 2017 induced serious damage to the ecosystem of the Jiuzhaigou region. Water resource quantity was threatened by the direct destruction of the connectivity between the upstream and downstream river systems, whereas water quality and the original aquatic ecosystem were worsened indirectly by secondary disasters, such as landslides and debris flows triggered by earthquakes. It is urgent to protect water resources to maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem for the Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage Site. Therefore, water resource protection strategies are developed by collaboratively considering water quantity, quality and aquatic ecology, including 1) studying the relationship between upstream and downstream in terms of water supply and connectivity, 2) developing emergency plans for extreme precipitation disasters and ecological water regulation schemes for extreme drought, 3) clarifying the impact of vegetation management measures on water conservation, nutrient cycling and water quality, 4) separating the contributions of earthquakes from related disasters, hydrodynamic changes, and lake bank vegetation succession to lake swamping, 5) identifying the potential water pollution risk caused by ecological restoration projects, analyzing the sources of pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and atmospheric acid deposits and developing control measures, and 6) systematically evaluating aquatic ecological health and determining water ecological protection and restoration measures. This review may provide critical viewpoints for conserving aquatic ecosystems, not only in the Jiuzhai World Natural Heritage Site but also in other global conserved aquatic parks.

在全球CO2持续升高背景下,游客的CO2排放导致热门景点周围的大气CO2升高速度远远大于全球平均CO2升高速度.针对这一问题,基于涡度相关系统,对九寨沟树正寨犀牛湖区域进行长期CO2浓度监测,结合年均径流量和基于CO2浓度得到的钙华(CaCO3)损失速率,估算九寨沟世界自然遗产地的钙华年损失量,探究钙华退化的机理.结果表明,游客呼吸可进一步升高CO2,升幅可达250～300 μL/L,导致水体的CaCO3损失率增加18％～21％.全球和局地CO2升高的叠加效应是导致以钙华景观为主的九寨沟钙华消失和环境退化的关键要因,游客的 CO2排放的确在毁坏九寨沟世界自然遗产景观.

This study presents a comprehensive morphological comparison along with molecular phylogeny of the genus Gloydius based on five mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, COI, cytb, and ND4). The specimens collected from Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve are shown to be a new species, Gloydius lateralissp. nov. Zhang, Shi, Jiang & Shi based on a combination of morphological and molecular accounts. G. lateralissp. nov. differs from other congeneric species by a series of diagnostic morphological characteristics and forms a strongly supported monophyletic group. The new species is phylogenetically closely related to G. swild, another recently described species from Heishui, Aba, Sichuan.

Though rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ca) harm the environment and society, they may also raise photosynthetic rates and enhance intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Numerous short-term studies have investigated tree growth under elevated CO2 (eCO2) conditions, but no long-duration study has investigated eCO2 impacts on tree growth and iWUE under natural conditions. Utilizing a new dendrochronological experimental design in a heavily-touristed nature preserve in Southwest China (Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve), we compared tree growth (e.g., basal area increment) and iWUE in two biophysically and environmentally similar valleys with contrasting anthropogenic activities. Trees in the control valley with ambient CO2 benefited from increasing Ca, possibly due to the CO2 fertilization effect and optimal environmental conditions. However, trees in the treatment valley with intensive tourism experienced comparatively higher localized eCO2 and growth rate declines. While iWUE increased (1959–2017) in the control (25.3%) and treatment sites (47.8%), declining tree growth rates in the treatment site was likely because comparatively extreme CO2 exposure levels encouraged stomatal closures. As the first long-term study investigating eCO2 impacts on tree growth and iWUE under natural conditions, we demonstrate that increased forest iWUE is unlikely to overcome negative drought stress and rising temperature impacts. Thus, forest potential for mitigating eCO2 and global climate change is likely overestimated, particularly under dry temperate conditions.

Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan, China is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery, recognized as a World Heritage Site and World Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO. On August 8, 2017, a Ms 7.0 (Mw 6.5) earthquake struck the region, causing severe damage and casualties. The earthquake triggered thousands of landslides and the collapse of the natural travertine dam impounding Huohua Lake, an important tourist attraction in the reserve. In this study, the dam failure process was investigated through field surveys and remote sensing observations. The propagation of the flood surge was analyzed by Massflow, a depth-integrated continuum model based on the MacCormack-TVD finite difference algorithm. The model results were validated against vegetation maps evaluated from satellite multispectral data recorded before and after the event. The relation between changes in vegetation coverage and computed flooded areas, flow depth, and velocities was elucidated. This study is preliminary in nature, yet the proposed approach could be used, after further validation, in flood hazard and vegetation damage assessments, which may be especially valuable in nature reserves.