Abstract
In the context of increasing ecological scarcity, maintaining the balance between natural and artificial capital has become a popular research topic in the field of ecosystem health. From the perspective of coordinating natural and artificial capital and maintaining the balance between human systems and the Earth’s ecosystem, the Ecosystem Health Index (EHI) was developed on the basis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EHI consists of the Social Progress Index (SPI), Economic Development Index (EDI), Natural Environment Index (NEI), and a pressure adjustment coefficient. Comprehensive indicator assessment models were used to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of the EHIs in 30 of China’s provinces from 2013 to 2019. A three-dimensional judgment matrix was used to classify the 30 provinces into four basic types. The results show the following: (1) From 2013 to 2019, the EHIs of all provinces improved to different degrees, with 19 provinces achieving a healthy state. (2) Spatially, the EHI showed some regional aggregation in 2013. Provinces with high EHIs were concentrated in the west, followed by those in the east, and those in the central provinces had the lowest EHIs. However, the differences between regions had narrowed by 2019. (3) The spatial distribution patterns of the NEI and the EDI varied widely, and most provinces did not reach a high level of coordination between natural and artificial capital. (4) The environmental pressure in all provinces, except Liaoning, decreased over time. In some cases, excessive pressure decreased the pressure-adjusted EHI, regardless of the EHI value. (5) According to the results of the ecosystem health classification in each province, the factors that hinder ecosystem health vary from place to place.
Highlights
Ecosystem health is a characteristic defined by the structural and functional integrity of an ecosystem in the face of disturbances from human activity [1,2]
As a source of human welfare, natural ecosystems play an important role in improving the lives of human beings by providing them with the means of production and living; ecological resources are transformed into economic and material wealth to realize the accumulation of artificial capital, which is invested in social development and regional construction
The improvement of the Economic Development Index (EDI) and Social Progress Index (SPI) indicates that the capacity of natural systems to supply services to human society improved, as natural capital was not reduced or lost
Summary
Ecosystem health is a characteristic defined by the structural and functional integrity of an ecosystem in the face of disturbances from human activity [1,2]. Scholars argued that a healthy ecosystem can repair itself despite disturbances, and requires only minimal external support in its management [3]. Norton, and Costanza [6] defined ecosystem health as a healthy, disease-free system that is stable and sustainable; that is, the system is able to maintain its organizational structure, self-regulate, and recover from stresses over time. Mageau [7] argued that a healthy ecosystem supports human communities by providing ecosystem services, such as food, fiber, waste absorption and recycling, drinking water, and clean air. Natural ecosystemcentered geocentrism and anthropocentrism, which focuses on the role of system health
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