Optimizing ecological security pattern in the coal resource-based city: A case study in Shuozhou City, China

Abstract

Large-scale mining activities have induced numerous non-negligible eco-geological environmental issues that seriously threaten regional ecological security. Construction and optimization of an ecological security pattern (ESP) can aid coordination of mineral resource development and ecological protection. An innovative method was proposed to construct and optimize ESP, which used ecosystem “function-dynamics-structure” conceptual framework, disaster disturbance risk index, incorporating ecosystem services importance index into minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) theory (MCRS) model, and gravity model. Specifically, ecological sources are quantitatively cataloged using ecosystem “function-dynamics-structure” conceptual framework. Ecological resistance surface is revised using the disaster disturbance risk index. Ecological corridors are extracted using the MCRS model. Regulation zones are defined by combining the optimized ESP with gravity model. The optimized ESP in Shuozhou city, China includes 67 ecological nodes, 625.97 km2 of primary ecological sources, 83.87 km2 of secondary ecological sources, 534.18 km of primary ecological corridors, and 282.28 km of secondary ecological corridors. These form the spatial pattern of “two horizontal, four vertical and four circles”, which will be used to maintain ecological process continuity and ecological flow within the study area. Corresponding suggestions are proposed to guide the planning of each regulation zone. The restrictive, protective, and suitable development zone areas are 1131.72 km2, 4255.47 km2 and 5238.93 km2, respectively. This methodology is not only suitable for determination of ESPs in coal mining areas, but also provides an approach, i.e., ecosystem “function-dynamics-structure” conceptual framework and MCRS model, that can be used to coordinate sustainable resource exploitation and ecological protection worldwide.