Study on the Change of Global Suitable Area of Sophora alopecuroides and Its Sustainable Ecological Restoration Based on the MaxEnt Model

The aim of our study is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global distribution of suitable habitats for Sophora alopecuroides L., as well as how these habitats might change in response to climate change. We employed the MaxEnt niche model to integrate distribution data from the Global Biodiversity Information Platform, incorporating 19 bioclimatic factors. This approach enabled us to predict the potential geographic distribution of S. alopecuroides L. worldwide under both current climatic conditions and future greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The results were visualized via ArcGIS 10.8 software. The findings indicate that currently, the suitable habitat for S. alopecuroides L. spans 12,897,100 km2, with the majority situated in the arid regions of Central and Eastern Asia. The key environmental variables influencing its distribution are annual mean temperature, maximum temperature of the warmest month, precipitation of the warmest season, and mean temperature of the coldest season. For future climate projections, suitable habitats generally exhibit a shrinking trend. The most pronounced decrease is anticipated under the moderate greenhouse gas emission scenario (SSP245). However, under the high greenhouse gas emission scenario (SSP585), the suitable habitat area is projected to increase marginally by 2060. This dynamic change warning suggests that it is necessary to optimize climate adaptation strategies, strengthen ecological protection and restoration in suitable areas, so as to maintain the ecological service functions of S. alopecuroides L. in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, such as sand fixation and soil conservation, and maintain biodiversity, and provide basic guarantee for the sustainable development and utilization of its medicinal and forage resources. This study reveals the dynamic impact of climate change on the distribution of S. alopecuroides L. suitable areas, which not only provides a scientific basis for ecological restoration and S. alopecuroides L. resource protection in arid and semi-arid areas, but also has important practical significance for promoting the regional practice of the concept of sustainable development of “harmonious coexistence between man and nature.”