Evaluating and simulating resource and environmental carrying capacity in arid and semiarid regions: A case study of Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Resources and environment provide the fundamental conditions for human life. With the rapid growth of population and development of regional social economies, the environment and ecosystems have been disturbed to varying degrees. Contradictions among human beings, resources and environment have become a key issue restricting the sustainable development, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. This study takes the arid and semiarid region of Xinjiang, China, as an example. An evaluation model and index system of resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC) are proposed based on the “pressure-vulnerability-adaptability” (PVA) concept. The RECCs in Xinjiang from 2000 to 2019 were quantitatively evaluated, and the reasons for the spatio-temporal changes of RECC were explored. In addition, the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) algorithm was introduced to realize multi-scenario simulations with concerning different decision-making preferences. Results indicated that: (1) the RECC in Xinjiang presents a spatial pattern of “high pressure around the three mountains and low pressure around the two basins” and the area of high carrying capacity decreased significantly from 2000 to 2019; (2) the pressure risk indicators are key factors in evaluating the RECC and the difference between the regional RECC and pressure risk is largely affected by vulnerability and adaptability; (3) the future regional RECC are predicted differently under different development orientations via the OWA algorithm, which is useful to provide decision-making references for promoting sustainable development.