Spatial Distribution of Precise Suitability of Plantation: A Case Study of Main Coniferous Forests in Hubei Province, China

(1) Background. Conifers are the main plantation species in southern China, including Masson Pine (MP), Chinese fir (CF) and thuja (CT). Clarifying suitable site conditions for these conifers is helpful large-area afforestation, so as to manage forests provide a higher level of ecosystem services. To achieve research goals, we take Hubei Province China case study. (2) Methods. The situations conifers, well environmental 448 sampling plots, were then investigated. growth environment studied area was determined by maximum entropy algorithm, suitability spatial distribution coniferous at provincial also analyzed. (3) Results. effect prediction model reached an accurate level, where AUC values MP, CF CT training set 0.828, 0.856 0.970, respectively. Among multiple factors, such geography climate, altitude most important factor affecting conifer growth. contribution 38.1%, 36.2% 36.1%, Suitable areas 97,400 ha, 74,300 ha 39,900 accounting 52.45%, 39.97% 21.46% area, We concluded that plantations 2800–5600 °C annual accumulated temperature, 40–1680 m a.s.l., <40° slopes. (4) Conclusions. study suggests evaluation should be carried out sufficient support afforestation China. However, due our data limitations, further studies needed explore above findings full extensive