Delineating Ecological Restoration Zoning Integrating Functional and Structural Models in Horqin Sandy Land, China

Escalating human–land conflicts have exacerbated ecosystem degradation, threatening regional sustainable development. As the largest sandy land in China, the Horqin Sandy Land (HSL) in eastern Inner Mongolia exhibits high ecological fragility. Delineating ecological restoration zones (ERZ) is critical to transition from localized restoration to system-wide stability, thereby enhancing regional ecological security, which reflects ecosystem health and integrity. Ecological security patterns (ESP), as spatial configurations that support and maintain ecological security, serve as the foundational framework for ERZ planning. Unlike conventional applications of InVEST and MSPA, this study integrates an ecosystem service assessment with morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) under a “Source–Resistance–Corridor–Note” paradigm to develop a novel “ecological network–zoning” approach. This framework transforms ecological connectivity analysis into actionable restoration zoning, bridging theoretical ESP construction with practical management needs. Key findings include the following: (1) In total, 76 vital ecological source regions were mapped, representing about 10,204.38 km2 of ecologically significant land, with primary distribution in the northwestern mountainous regions; (2) A total of 169 ecological corridors were extracted, spanning 4071.94 km in length. Ecological pinch points with 239.91 km2 and barrier points with 568.85 km2 were systematically identified; (3) A “Five Zones, Three Belts, One Core” spatial strategy was proposed, aligning with regional ecological conditions and development goals. This study provides a transferable methodology for ecosystem restoration in global arid and semi-arid regions, bridging theoretical frameworks with actionable zoning practices.