Abstract: By using the satellite images of 4 periods of time, including the data from Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM⁺), Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS) and SPOT, this paper analyzed the landscape change in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone of Guangdong Province, South China in 1979-2003, aimed to study the temporal-spatial landscape change characteristics, their causes, and major driving forces in this zone. The results revealed that the characteristics of landscape change were completely different among test three periods (1979-1990, 1990-2000 and 2000-2003). During the first period (1979-1990), urbanization developed very rapidly, and the natural vegetations mainly in Futian, Luohu and Yantian districts degraded and transformed into a landscape with anthropogenic components. In the second period (1990-2000), landscape conversion mainly took place in Nanshan and Futian districts, where various types of landscape were transformed into impervious surfaces, and parts of the vegetations were transformed into anthropogenic landscapes. During this period, typical urban characteristics were formed, whereas the remaining vegetations, especially forest stand, were little disturbed. In the third period (2000-2003), subtle consolidation was observed, and the use of pervious material in certain areas counteracted the adverse ecological impacts of urbanization. The extent of urbanization still increased, but the intensity of landscape change was at lower level than that in previous periods.

Key words: Wetland, Plant, Mercury, Sanjiang Plain