Deciphering the Spatial Code: Identification and Optimization of Ecological Security Pattern—A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China

Optimizing Ecological security patterns (ESPs) is critical for advancing territorial spatial restoration and fostering sustainable regional development. While research on ESPs’ construction has grown significantly, key challenges persist, particularly in the accurate identification of priority conservation areas and the integration of socioeconomic development with ecological conservation. To address these challenges, this study selects Jiangsu Province as a representative case. We move beyond single-factor assessments by combining ecosystem service importance evaluation with a multi-factor ecological sensitivity analysis (including water pollution, soil erosion, air pollution, and anthropogenic pressure). A comprehensive ecological resistance surface is then developed, incorporating both natural and anthropogenic disturbance factors, to evaluate spatial patterns of ecological security. Utilizing the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, we delineate ecological corridors and ultimately construct the ESPs by synthesizing ecological sources and corridors. Key results include: Jiangsu’s ESPs comprises 33 ecological patches (total area: 14,622.46 km2, 13.71% of the study region), predominantly composed of water bodies, wetlands, and cultivated land. Thirteen ecological corridors (total length: 1920.38 km) primarily traverse cultivated land, construction land, and water bodies. The optimized ESPs strategy termed “Two Cores, Two Barriers, Three Belts, Multiple Corridors” offers a concrete spatial blueprint. The findings provide effective scientific reference for assessing and managing regional ecological security trends.