Abstract
Regional ecosystem health is the basis for regular regional exploration, ecological protection, and sustainable development. This study explored ecosystem health at the southern end of the Hu Line (Sichuan and Yunnan provinces) using the pressure–state–response model and examined the spatial evolution of ecosystem health. The proportion of unhealthy and morbid cities decreased from 45.9% in 2000 to 35.1% in 2016. The imbalance of ecosystem health among cities has gradually increased since 2006, but more high-quality cities have emerged (Z of Moran’s Index < 1.96, p > 0.05). Overall, the regional ecosystem on the southeast side of the Hu Line was healthier than that on the northwest side. Differences in ecosystem health on both sides of the Hu Line showed decreasing trends over time except for the pressure score. The spatial pattern of ecosystem health moved along the Hu Line because the pressure and state scores of ecosystems were mainly determined by the natural environmental conditions. Based on the county-level assessment, the grade of imbalance within cities was divided, and those that were lagging were identified. To correct regional imbalances, a comprehensive and proactive policy framework for a smart development model was put forward in Sichuan and Yunnan.
Highlights
The dramatic increase in the range and intensity of human activity has rapidly changed the global ecosystem, and poses a severe threat to the survival and development of human society [1,2]
The improvement and maintenance of healthy ecosystems is essential to achieving sustainable socioeconomic development, as natural ecosystems provide necessary materials and ecological services for survival and development of human beings [7]
Ecosystem health assessment is identified as the foundation of environmental management, and reasonable and effective evaluation of ecosystem health can identify environmental or economic crises to avoid serious deterioration of ecosystem health because of rapid socioeconomic development [7,8,9]
Summary
The dramatic increase in the range and intensity of human activity has rapidly changed the global ecosystem, and poses a severe threat to the survival and development of human society [1,2]. The contemporary world is increasingly industrializing and urbanizing, especially in developing countries [3]. China, which is the largest developing country in the world, has shown remarkable progress in its social economy. Ecosystems and social development have a limited capacity to manage environmental pressure, and when such pressure exceeds threshold levels there may be adverse effects on local ecosystems. In such cases, regional climate, hydrological conditions, and biological diversity will undergo appreciable changes, profoundly affecting regional ecological process [4,5,6]. Ecosystem health assessment is identified as the foundation of environmental management, and reasonable and effective evaluation of ecosystem health can identify environmental or economic crises to avoid serious deterioration of ecosystem health because of rapid socioeconomic development [7,8,9]
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