Comprehensive evaluation of ecological vulnerability based on the AHP-CV method and SOM model: A case study of Badong County, China

Abstract

As a result of rapid economic development, ecological environmental problems have become increasingly serious. Ecological vulnerability (EV) assessment can scientifically analyse the causal mechanism and change laws of ecosystem vulnerability, providing a basis for decision-making for ecological environmental protection. Based on the pressure-state-response (PSR) model, this paper selects 13 indicators, including the geological hazard index, soil erosion sensitivity, population density, proportion of developed land, remote sensing ecological index, and landscape adaptability index, to construct an EV evaluation index system for Badong County, China. Furthermore, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-coefficient of variation (CV) method and the self-organizing map (SOM) model are used to comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate the EV of Badong County in 2020. The main factors affecting the EV are explored through GeoDetector. The results show that the EV in Badong County is at a moderate level and above; it is high in the north and south and low in between. According to the analysis of the EV results, the 12 townships in Badong County can be divided into 3 classes. Class I includes Xinling and Dongdukou towns, where the EV is high. Ecological governance measures should be strengthened in these two towns. Based on the GeoDetector results, the spatial distribution of EV in Badong County is mainly related to five factors: the geological hazard index, habitat quality index, proportion of developed land, remote sensing ecological environment index, and soil erosion sensitivity.